You can react to some threatening stimuli without conscious thought because there is a neural pathway that leads directly from the thalamus to the amygdala.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is true. The thalamus is a structure in the brain that receives sensory information and relays it to other parts of the brain. The amygdala is responsible for processing and responding to emotional information, including fear. When a threatening stimulus is detected by the thalamus, it can send information directly to the amygdala via a neural pathway called the "low road," without conscious thought or processing in the cortex. This allows for a rapid, automatic response to potential danger.

You Can React to Some Threatening Stimuli Without Conscious Thought