Lesson 3.5.2

3.5.2 Exercise and mental health (biological) Quiz: OCR Psychology, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.5.2, Exercise and mental health (biological): 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Psychology (H567), Unit 3: Applied psychology (Component 03), written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which neurotransmitter's increased release following exercise is most commonly linked to elevated mood?

    • Acetylcholine
    • Melatonin
    • Cortisol
    • Beta-endorphins

  2. Sarah feels less anxious after a brisk walk. Which physiological mechanism primarily reduced her state anxiety?

    • Thyroxine release
    • Adrenaline spikes
    • Insulin surges
    • Beta-endorphins

  3. Which brain structure undergoes neurogenesis and volume increase following chronic aerobic exercise training?

    • Hypothalamus
    • Amygdala
    • Thalamus
    • Hippocampus

  4. Mark begins a running programme to help manage his clinical depression. What biological process directly aids his hippocampal neurogenesis?

    • BDNF upregulation
    • Cortisol elevation
    • Glycogen depletion
    • Sodium depletion

  5. According to the monoamine hypothesis of exercise and mental health, which chemical messenger is increased?

    • Histamine
    • Glucagon
    • Serotonin
    • Oxytocin

  6. Which hormone, often known as the primary stress hormone, is reduced in the bloodstream following regular exercise?

    • Testosterone
    • Oestrogen
    • Cortisol
    • Thyroxine

  7. Tom uses gym workouts to combat chronic stress. Which bodily system does exercise help regulate to lower his stress hormones?

    • Motor strip
    • HPA axis
    • Visual cortex
    • Limbic system

  8. What term describes the generation of new neurons in the brain stimulated by regular aerobic exercise?

    • Apoptosis
    • Synaptic pruning
    • Neurogenesis
    • Myelination

  9. Which protein growth factor is significantly upregulated by cardiovascular exercise to support neural survival?

    • DHA
    • ATP
    • BDNF
    • GABA

  10. Emma notices her resting heart rate has dropped and her mood has improved after months of jogging. What is this psychological benefit called?

    • Cognitive dissonance
    • Social facilitation
    • Sensory adaptation
    • Affect enhancement

  11. Which physiological mechanism explains how exercise improves sleep architecture and mental health simultaneously?

    • Thermoregulatory hypothesis
    • Social comparison theory
    • Drive reduction theory
    • Social loafing

  12. Post-workout, David experiences a temporary drop in muscle tension linked to raised core body temperature. What is this called?

    • Vasoconstriction
    • Catabolism
    • Thermoregulation
    • Homeostasis

  13. Which hypothesis proposes that exercise improves mental health by distracting individuals from daily worries?

    • Inverted-U hypothesis
    • Distraction hypothesis
    • Social learning hypothesis
    • Cue utilisation hypothesis

  14. What psychological benefit is gained when an individual successfully completes a challenging physical exercise session?

    • Self-efficacy
    • Attribution error
    • Cognitive bias
    • Group polarization

  15. Lucy feels more confident in her overall abilities after hitting her running targets. Which psychological construct has improved?

    • Social identity
    • Self-handicapping
    • Locus of control
    • Self-efficacy

  16. Which neurotransmitter, alongside serotonin, is part of the monoamine group implicated in exercise mood benefits?

    • Adrenaline
    • Dopamine
    • Noradrenaline
    • Glutamate

  17. James exercises outdoors in a park rather than a gym. What additional psychological boost does this provide?

    • Green exercise
    • Isotonic training
    • Hyperbaric therapy
    • Virtual immersion

  18. Which physiological system does cardiovascular exercise strengthen, indirectly reducing anxiety through better autonomic regulation?

    • Lymphatic system
    • Endocrine system
    • Digestive system
    • Cardiovascular system

  19. Rachel takes up team netball to help alleviate feelings of loneliness and low mood. What biological-social link is tested here?

    • Sensory overload
    • Social support
    • Deindividuation
    • Social inhibition

  20. Which specific brain region is primarily associated with mood regulation and benefits from exercise-induced neurogenesis?

    • Amygdala
    • Hippocampus
    • Thalamus
    • Cerebellum

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