Delroy was on a plane that flew through a hurricane. There was tremendous turbulence and he was absolutely terrified. Even though he tries not to think about it, Delroy can't forget that plane trip. Delroy's persistent memory results from the effect of the ____________ on how the ____________ consolidates memory.
A) thalamus; prefrontal cortex
B) amygdala; prefrontal cortex
C) amygdala; hippocampus
D) thalamus; hippocampus

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The amygdala is involved in emotional processing and in forming associations between strong emotional events and memories. The hippocampus is critical for the consolidation of declarative memories (i.e. memories that can be consciously recalled), and it is believed to be particularly important for the formation of new episodic memories (memories of specific events). Since Delroy's memory is linked to an emotional experience, the amygdala's involvement in this process is likely. However, the hippocampus's involvement is also possible since Delroy is forming an episodic memory of a specific event (the plane trip). The thalamus is a relay station for sensory information, but it does not play a major role in memory consolidation. The prefrontal cortex is involved in decision-making and working memory, but it is not as critical for the consolidation of new memories as the amygdala and hippocampus. Therefore, the best answer is C.

Delroy Was on a Plane That Flew Through a Hurricane