Your textbook discusses the neural pathways responsible for instinctual fear responses that occur when you perceive a threatening stimulus. Why does this instinctual fear response take place before you have time to consciously evaluate the stimulus?
A) because the fear response is classically conditioned, and classically conditioned responses cannot be consciously experienced
B) because the direct thalamus $\rightarrow$ amygdala route bypasses the cerebral cortex, where conscious recognition takes place
C) because the direct thalamus $\rightarrow$ hypothalamus route activates the parasympathetic nervous system, triggering the fight-or-flight response
D) because the instinctual fear response is a spinal reflex, and does not involve conscious thought

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The direct thalamus to amygdala pathway bypasses the cerebral cortex where conscious evaluation of the stimulus would typically take place. This allows for a rapid, instinctual response to a perceived threat before conscious thought and evaluation can occur.

Your Textbook Discusses the Neural Pathways Responsible for Instinctual Fear →\rightarrow→

Your Textbook Discusses the Neural Pathways Responsible for Instinctual Fear $\rightarrow$