Stan has been extremely afraid of cats since he was scratched as a 5-year-old. Whenever he sees a cat, he remembers the time he was scratched across his face and starts to feel afraid. If a cat comes towards him, he often runs away immediately as he is afraid of being scratched again. Stan's behaviors and recollection of this trauma is a result of the __________ in the limbic system.
A) hippocampus
B) thalamus
C) amygdala
D) medulla

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The amygdala plays a significant role in processing emotions, particularly fear and anxiety. In the given scenario, Stan's fear and avoidance of cats is a result of the traumatic experience he had as a child, which is processed by his amygdala. The hippocampus is responsible for memory formation and consolidation, while the thalamus relays sensory information to different parts of the brain. The medulla is responsible for regulating autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Stan Has Been Extremely Afraid of Cats Since He Was