Stan has been extremely afraid of cats since he was scratched as a five-year-old. Whenever he sees a cat, he remembers the time he was scratched across his face and starts to feel afraid. If a cat comes towards him, he often runs away immediately, as he is afraid of being scratched again. Stan's behaviours and recollection of this trauma are a result of the ________ in the limbic system.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for processing emotional responses, including fear and anxiety, making it the best choice for explaining Stan's fear of cats. When Stan sees a cat, his amygdala activates and sends signals to his brain and body to respond to the perceived threat. This triggers his fear response and leads to his avoidance behaviors. The other structures listed (hippocampus, thalamus, and medulla) are involved in various aspects of brain function but are not specifically related to fear processing in the same way as the amygdala.

Stan Has Been Extremely Afraid of Cats Since He Was