Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

The amygdala's quick processing of information from the thalamus allows for emotional responses to occur before the cortex has time to interpret the situation. This means that we can experience fear or anxiety without fully understanding what is causing it.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Appraisal is the process of evaluating the relevance and significance of a particular stimulus in relation to an individual's emotional experience. This includes assessing whether the stimulus is relevant to our goals, whether it is beneficial or harmful, and whether we have the resources to cope with it. Labeling refers to the act of assigning a name or description to an emotion, regulation refers to the process of controlling or modulating an emotional experience, and valence refers to the positive or negative quality of an emotional experience.

Question 3

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 4

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 and is involved in the body's fear response. The fast pathway involves a direct connection from the sensory organs to the amygdala, bypassing conscious awareness and allowing for a quick reaction to potential threats. The slow pathway involves processing of the stimulus in more detail, through various brain regions, before reaching the amygdala.

Question 5

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 of emotional processing leads directly from the sensory thalamus to the amygdala, while the slow pathway involves additional processing in the cortex before reaching the amygdala. Therefore, the correct answers are thalamus (for both pathways) and cortex (only for the slow pathway). None of the other brain regions listed are involved in emotional processing.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that individuals with damage to their amygdala can still recognize happiness in facial expressions. The amygdala is more involved in processing negative emotions such as fear and anger.

Question 7

Slaton immediately becomes upset when his football coach yells at him and yanks him from the game.Sitting on the sideline 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 cognitive process of re-evaluating a situation to modify its emotional impact. In this case, Slaton is using reappraisal by telling himself that the coach is only trying to make him a better player and changing his negative emotions to a more positive outlook. Emotional communication refers to the nonverbal expression of emotions, suppression refers to the conscious suppression of emotions, and affect labeling refers to putting a label on an emotion one is experiencing. None of these processes are demonstrated in the scenario.

Question 8

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

By interpreting his mother's question as a sign of caring, Rudy is reframing the situation in a positive light. This helps him to feel better emotionally rather than feeling frustrated or annoyed with his mother's repeated questioning. Returning home early, ignoring the question, or suppressing his frustration may not necessarily address the underlying emotional response that Rudy is experiencing.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

The fast emotion pathway is also known as the "low road" and it bypasses the cortex and goes directly from the thalamus to the amygdala. This allows for a quick and automatic response to potential threats or danger.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The cortex is responsible for either stopping or sustaining the fear response once the threat has been identified. It plays a role in cognitive appraisal of the stimulus and helps determine if the fear response is necessary and appropriate.

Answer: D 
 The cortex is part of the slow pathway that opposes the fast pathway. The fast pathway triggers an immediate fear response while the slow pathway allows for cognitive appraisal and potential regulation of the fear response. The cortex plays a role in the slow pathway by inhibiting the fast pathway when necessary.

Question 11

Appraisal is to reappraisal as:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

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 the way one thinks about a situation to alter their emotional response. Thinking of the class as preparation for her future career is an example of reappraisal as Susanna is reframing the situation as beneficial rather than boring. The other options may help to improve Susanna's overall mood but do not involve changing how she thinks about the class specifically.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe the cognitive and behavioral strategies we use to influence our emotional experience is emotion regulation. Choice A refers to the process of evaluating a situation to determine its significance, which is separate from emotion regulation. Choice B is a term that is often used to describe the ability to control one's own thoughts and behaviors, but it is not specific to emotions. Choice D is a similar concept to cognitive control, but it refers specifically to controlling one's own actions rather than thoughts or emotions.

Question 14

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, which describes how emotional information travels through the brain. LeDoux's work has been influential in the field of neuroscience and has led to a better understanding of how emotions are processed in the brain.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

The wiring between the thalamus and the amygdala allows for quick, subconscious processing of environmental stimuli and immediate behavioral responses without waiting for cortical input. This is important for survival in potentially dangerous or threatening situations.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Recent research has shown that the amygdala plays a crucial role in appraising the emotion-relevant aspects of a stimulus and assigning emotional meaning to it. It is responsible for the processing of emotions, particularly fear and aggression, and is involved in the formation of emotional memories. While the amygdala may have some secondary functions such as facilitating memory, its primary role is in the processing of emotions.

Question 17

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 18

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 19

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

Accepted Answer

The slow emotion pathway, also known as the high road, starts in the thalamus, then travels to the cortex (where the sensory information is processed and integrated), and finally reaches the amygdala (where emotions are processed and evaluated). Choice B correctly follows this order, making it the best choice.

Question 20

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 involved in processing and regulating emotions, particularly fear and aggression.

Quiz 8: Emotion and Motivation-Part A