Extinction of a classically conditioned response involves suppression of that response by higher brain centres; the conditioned response can be established again very quickly. The probable mechanism for extinction lies in the path from the ____________; the probable mechanism for reconditioning lies in the path from the ____________.
A) thalamus to the amygdala; thalamus to the sensory cortex to the amygdala
B) thalamus to the sensory cortex to the amygdala; thalamus to the amygdala
C) hippocampus to the amygdala; thalamus to the frontal lobes to the amygdala
D) thalamus to the frontal lobes to the amygdala; hippocampus to the amygdala

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The thalamus sends sensory information to the sensory cortex, which then projects to the amygdala. During extinction, the higher brain centres such as the prefrontal cortex, inhibit the amygdala response, leading to suppression of the CR. However, during reconditioning, the thalamus sends sensory information to the sensory cortex, which projects directly to the amygdala, allowing for the rapid establishment of the CR again. Therefore, the probable mechanism for extinction lies in the path from the thalamus to the sensory cortex to the amygdala, and the probable mechanism for reconditioning lies in the direct path from the thalamus to the amygdala.

Extinction of a Classically Conditioned Response Involves Suppression of That