Question 1

The cognitive and behavioural strategies we use to influence our emotional experience are collectively called:

Accepted Answer

Emotion regulation refers to the cognitive and behavioural strategies we use to influence our emotional experience. Choices A, B, and D are not accurate descriptions of these strategies.

Question 2

A person who is asked to inhibit imagined emotions such as fear or happiness will show elevated activity of the _____ but decreased activity of the _____.

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is associated with the processing of emotional content, including fear and happiness. Inhibition of imagined emotions would result in decreased activity of the amygdala. The cortex is involved in higher-order cognitive processing and inhibitory control, so inhibition of emotions would result in elevated activity of the cortex.

Question 3

Angry because she had to endure a class she finds dreadfully boring,Susanna decided to use reappraisal to change her emotional state about the class.Which action BEST illustrates this process?

Accepted Answer

Using reappraisal involves changing one's perception or interpretation of a situation to alter their emotional response. Thinking of the course as preparation for her future career is an example of reappraisal because Susanna is reframing the class as an opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge for her future. The other options do not involve changing her perception of the class, but rather engaging in activities that may be unrelated or helpful but do not directly address her negative emotions towards the class.

Question 4

Who conducted pioneering research on the "fast" and "slow" emotional pathways?

Accepted Answer

Joseph LeDoux conducted pioneering research on the "fast" and "slow" emotional pathways.

Question 5

Kelly sustained a severe head injury in a skiing accident.Following a limited recovery from the accident,the family has been advised that damage to Kelly's _____ will likely make it difficult for her to inhibit her emotions.

Accepted Answer

The cortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex, is crucial for inhibiting emotions and impulses. Damage to this area can impair a person's ability to regulate their emotions effectively.

Question 6

What is the role of the cortex in a fear response to a stimulus?

Accepted Answer

The cortex plays a critical role in either stopping or sustaining the fear response once the threat has been identified. It evaluates the danger and determines if the response should be continued or if it is safe to stop the response.

Question 7

Which brain structure plays the MOST critical role in the appraisal of emotions?

Accepted Answer

The amygdala plays the most critical role in the appraisal of emotions. It is responsible for detecting and processing emotional information, particularly in relation to fear and threat.

Question 8

Slaton immediately becomes upset when his hockey coach yells at him and yanks him from the game.Sitting on the bench a few minutes later,Slaton tells himself that the coach is only trying to make him a better player.He begins to feel better,illustrating the process of:

Accepted Answer

Reappraisal is the process of reframing the meaning of a situation or event in order to manage one's emotional response to it. In this case, Slaton initially became upset when his coach yelled at him and removed him from the game. However, he was able to reappraise the situation and tell himself that the coach was only trying to make him a better player. This helped him feel better and manage his emotions.

Question 9

Someone with damage to their amygdala would MOST likely still be able to recognize which facial emotion?

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is primarily associated with identifying and processing fear and negative emotions, but it is not as essential for recognizing positive emotions such as happiness. Therefore, someone with damage to their amygdala would likely still be able to recognize happiness on a facial expression.

Question 10

Recent research suggests that the PRIMARY role of the amygdala is to:

Accepted Answer

Recent research indicates that the amygdala plays a primary role in appraising the emotion-relevant aspects of a stimulus, particularly in relation to fear and threat detection. It also helps to modulate emotional responses and integrate emotional information with cognitive processes.

Question 11

Inhibiting the outward signs of emotion is termed _____ and has been demonstrated to be an _____ technique at emotional regulation.

Accepted Answer

Suppression involves consciously trying to hide or inhibit outward signs of emotion, and research has shown it to be an ineffective technique for emotional regulation, as it does not reduce the emotional experience itself and can even increase physiological stress.

Question 12

The so-called fast emotion pathway leads from the _____ directly to the amygdala.

Accepted Answer

The fast emotion pathway, also known as the "low road," bypasses the cortex and goes directly from sensory organs to the amygdala via the thalamus. This pathway allows for quick, instinctual responses to potential threats.

Question 13

Appraisal is to reappraisal as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Appraisal is to reappraisal as:
...

Question 14

Because the amygdala receives information from the thalamus before it receives information from the cortex,you:

Accepted Answer

Because the amygdala receives information from the thalamus before it receives information from the cortex, it is possible to have an emotional response to something without fully understanding what it is. This can lead to subconscious fears and reactions.

Question 15

_____ is an evaluation of the emotion-relevant aspects of a particular stimulus.

Accepted Answer

Appraisal is the process of evaluating the emotion-relevant aspects of a particular stimulus, such as whether it is beneficial or harmful, and how it aligns with personal goals and values. It plays a critical role in the experience and expression of emotions. Labelling refers to the act of assigning a specific name or category to an emotion, while regulation involves controlling or modifying one's emotional response to a stimulus. Valence refers to the positive or negative nature of an emotional experience.

Question 16

If you stumble upon a tarantula in the woods,your brain will transmit information about that stimulus to the _____ through two routes,the "fast pathway" and the "slow pathway."

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions, including fear. It receives input from both the fast pathway (which goes directly from the thalamus to the amygdala) and the slow pathway (which goes through the cortex first). In the case of a tarantula in the woods, the fast pathway would trigger an immediate fear response before the cortex could fully process the situation.

Question 17

When his mother repeatedly asks him about being home on time,Rudy finds that he feels better emotionally if he reappraises the situation and:

Accepted Answer

Interpreting his mother's question as a sign of caring allows Rudy to see the situation in a more positive light, which can help to alleviate any negative emotions he may be feeling. Option A and B do not address the issue at hand and option D involves suppressing emotions, which can be unhealthy in the long run.

Question 18

The so-called slow emotion pathway begins in the _____,travels to the _____,and then finally reaches the _____.

Accepted Answer

The slow emotion pathway begins in the thalamus, travels to the cortex, and then finally reaches the amygdala.

Question 19

The so-called fast pathway leads from the _____ directly to the amygdala,whereas the so-called slow pathway leads from the thalamus to the _____ and then to the amygdala.

Accepted Answer

The fast pathway leads directly from the thalamus to the amygdala (not the hypothalamus or pituitary gland), while the slow pathway goes from the thalamus to the cortex and then to the amygdala (not the cerebellum or pineal gland). Therefore, the correct answer is D, thalamus and cortex.

Question 20

The neuronal wiring between the thalamus and the amygdala allows us to:

Accepted Answer

The thalamus and amygdala connection allows for quick decisions about the environment without waiting for cortical input, which is important for survival in potentially dangerous situations. Choice A involves recognition of location, which may be processed in the primary sensory cortex. Choice C involves more detailed analysis, which may involve higher cortical areas. Choice D involves comparison of the visual image with known threat images, which may involve association areas and memory retrieval.

Quiz 8: Emotion and Motivation