Bincheng has been taught to visualize the pain from his migraine headaches as simply a part of his experience of life. While he is engaging in this activity, an fMRI scan of his brain would be likely to show ____________ activity in the part of the brain that registers ____________.
A) more; the emotional aspect of pain
B) more; the sensory input of pain
C) less; the emotional aspect of pain
D) less; the sensory input of pain

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By visualizing the pain as a part of his experience, Bincheng is likely to reduce the emotional arousal associated with the pain, leading to less activity in the part of the brain that registers the emotional aspect of pain. This is supported by studies that have shown that mindfulness-based interventions can reduce activity in the amygdala, which is involved in processing emotions. However, since Bincheng is still experiencing the pain, there may still be sensory input of pain registering in the brain, although possibly with less intensity. Therefore, the answer is C, less activity in the part of the brain that registers the emotional aspect of pain.

Bincheng Has Been Taught to Visualize the Pain from His