Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT typically assessed as part of a biological response to stress?

1. Appetite

2. Sleep

3. Exercise levels

4. Mental acuity

The correct answer is: Mental acuity

The chosen answer highlights an important distinction in the assessment of biological responses to stress. While appetite, sleep, and exercise levels are essential physiological indicators that are affected by stress, mental acuity represents a cognitive rather than a biological response. Biological responses typically refer to physical changes or behaviors that one might observe or measure, such as variations in appetite due to adrenal changes, alterations in sleep patterns due to anxiety, or changes in physical activity levels in reaction to stressors. Mental acuity, which refers to cognitive functions like memory, reasoning, and problem-solving, is influenced by stress but is categorized more within psychological or cognitive assessments rather than direct biological responses. Therefore, it is accurate to say that mental acuity is not typically assessed as part of a biological response to stress, making it the correct choice in this context. This distinction is key to understanding how stress impacts both our physical and mental health.