The Focus on Neuroscience box "Emotions and the Brain" describes the use of PET scans to study brain areas that were activated when participants recalled emotional memories. Activation of which brain area indicated that the body's peripheral nervous system was also involved in feeling an emotion?
A) the somatosensory cortex
B) the hippocampus
C) the visual cortex
D) the amygdala

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing sensory information from the body, including information about touch, pain, and temperature. If this area is activated during recall of emotional memories, it suggests that the body's peripheral nervous system is involved in feeling the emotion, as peripheral nervous system signals from the body are being processed in the somatosensory cortex. The other brain areas listed (hippocampus, visual cortex, and amygdala) are involved in different aspects of emotional processing, but their activation does not necessarily indicate involvement of the peripheral nervous system.

The Focus on Neuroscience Box "Emotions and the Brain" Describes