Question 1

While walking home late at night after watching a scary movie at a friend's house, Ashley suddenly hears a strange, shrill noise that almost sounds like a distant scream. Her heartbeat and blood pressure increase, her muscles tense, her mouth goes dry, and she begins to perspire. Ashley is experiencing the _____ component of emotion that is due to the activation of her _____ nervous system.
A)psychological; sympathetic
B)physiological; sympathetic
C)subjective; parasympathetic
D)expressive or behavioral; parasympathetic

Accepted Answer

The physiological component of emotion refers to the bodily changes that occur in response to an emotional stimulus. In this scenario, Ashley's increased heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, dry mouth, and perspiration all indicate that her sympathetic nervous system is active. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's fight-or-flight response, which is triggered in response to a perceived threat or danger. Therefore, option B, physiological; sympathetic, is the correct choice.

Question 2

In the indirect fear pathway described by Joseph LeDoux, what role is played by the cortex?
A)determining whether the thalamus is responding appropriately to the threatening stimulus
B)none, because the cortex is not involved in the indirect fear pathway
C)activating the pituitary gland
D)interpreting a stimulus and determining whether it is a threat

Accepted Answer

In the indirect fear pathway, the thalamus sends information to the cortex, which interprets the stimulus and determines whether it is a threat. If it is deemed a threat, the cortex sends a signal back to the amygdala, which then triggers a fear response.

Question 3

_____ are fleeting facial expressions that can serve as nonverbal cues indicating deception.
A)Microexpressions
B)Anthropomorphisms
C)Parasympathetic responses
D)Sympathetic responses

Accepted Answer

Microexpressions are brief, involuntary facial expressions that can reveal a person's true emotions or intentions, including when they are trying to deceive or hide something. They typically last only a fraction of a second and can be difficult to detect without careful observation or specialized training.

Question 4

In studies investigating the physiological components of emotion, researchers have found:
A)that the same pattern of physiological changes occurs for both positive and negative emotions.
B)that anger produces a marked increase in skin temperature, whereas fear produces a decrease in skin temperature.
C)significant cross-cultural differences in patterns of physiological arousal for positive and negative emotions.
D)that anger produces a dramatic decrease in skin temperature, whereas fear produces a marked increase in skin temperature.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that anger is associated with an increase in skin temperature, while fear is associated with a decrease in skin temperature.

Question 5

The Focus on Neuroscience box, "Emotions and the Brain," described a PET scan study investigating brain activation when participants recalled different kinds of emotional memories. What were the results of this study?
A)No matter what emotion was experienced, a single brain area was activated, indicating that there is a single emotion center in the brain.
B)The hypothalamus was activated by memories involving positive emotions, and only the amygdala was activated by memories involving negative emotions.
C)Each of the emotions produced a different pattern of brain activation, indicating that each emotion involved distinct neural circuits in the brain.
D)The amygdala was activated by memories involving positive emotions, and only the hypothalamus was activated by memories involving negative emotions.

Accepted Answer

The study found that each emotion produced a different pattern of brain activation, indicating that each emotion involved distinct neural circuits in the brain.

Question 6

Which statement BEST characterizes the relationship between emotions and physiological arousal?
A)Different physiological arousal patterns have been found for different emotions.
B)Most emotions have the same physiological arousal pattern since the arousal is based upon activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
C)Different physiological arousal patterns are seen with negative emotions but not with positive emotions.
D)Positive emotions have more intense physiological arousal patterns than do negative emotions.

Accepted Answer

Different emotions have been found to have different patterns of physiological arousal. For example, fear is associated with increased heart rate and blood pressure, while disgust is associated with decreased heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, the intensity of arousal can vary within the same emotion depending on the situation or individual. Therefore, A is the best statement to characterize the relationship between emotions and physiological arousal.

Question 7

Brandon was waiting in line to make a deposit at the bank when he heard the man in front of him say softly to the teller, "Just give me the money now." At first Brandon thought the man was just impatient, but then he realized that the guy was a bank robber. Brandon felt afraid and started backing up slowly, looking for cover. Brandon's emotional response probably resulted from neural impulses that:
A)traveled along the indirect pathway, via the thalamus$\to$cortex$\to$amygdala.
B)traveled along the direct pathway, via the thalamus$\to$amygdala.
C)directly activated his hypothalamus and medulla.
D)directly activated his pituitary gland and visual cortex.

Accepted Answer

The direct pathway is responsible for the rapid, automatic emotional responses that are often associated with fear and other strong emotions.

Question 8

When Jana took her first driving lesson, she experienced a number of physiological reactions, such as a racing heart, sweaty palms, and tension in her muscles. These physiological reactions involved the activation of her _____ nervous system.
A)somatic
B)sympathetic
C)parasympathetic
D)skeletal

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which causes physiological reactions such as increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension. These are common reactions during situations that cause stress or anxiety, such as learning to drive.

Question 9

Amae is a(n):
A)hormone manufactured by the cells lining the stomach that strongly stimulates appetite (also called the hunger hormone).
B)hormone found in the brain that decreases hunger and increases feelings of satiation.
C)other-focused emotion in Japan, meaning the sense of being lovingly cared for and unconditionally accepted by another person.
D)self-focused emotion in Japan, reflecting high levels of self-efficacy.

Accepted Answer

Amae is a Japanese term for a specific type of emotion, which refers to the feeling of being lovingly cared for and unconditionally accepted by another person. It is considered an other-focused emotion in Japan. Options A and B refer to hormones related to hunger and satiety, and option D refers to self-efficacy, none of which are related to amae.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about polygraph tests is true?
A)Most states allow polygraph results to be used in criminal trials.
B)In the scientific community, it is generally agreed that polygraphs are valid methods for detecting lies.
C)The U.S. government uses polygraph testing in several agencies, including the CIA and the Department of Energy.
D)Polygraphs have been banned in 47 U.S. states.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. government does use polygraph testing in several agencies, including the CIA and the Department of Energy.

(Note: Statements A and B are both false. Statement D is also false; polygraphs are not banned in any U.S. state, but their use may be limited or restricted.)

Question 11

The polygraph is commonly called a _____.
A)form of pseudoscience.
B)truth serum.
C)legal loophole.
D)lie detector.

Accepted Answer

The common term for the polygraph test is "lie detector", as it is used to help determine if a person is being truthful or deceptive when answering questions. While it is widely used in the justice system, there is ongoing debate about its accuracy and reliability. It is not considered a form of pseudoscience or truth serum, nor is it a legal loophole.

Question 12

When you are threatened, you experience a rapidly occurring series of automatic physiological reactions. This response is known as:
A)fight-or-flight.
B)the butterfly effect.
C)an empathetic reaction.
D)systematic activation.

Accepted Answer

The fight-or-flight response is a well-known automatic physiological reaction that occurs when an individual is threatened or perceives danger. It involves a series of bodily changes such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and muscle tension, which prepare the body to either confront the threat or flee from it.

Question 13

A polygraph:
A)measures physiological changes associated with emotions like fear, tension, and anxiety.
B)is administered to detect lies or deception.
C)is used in nearly 90 percent of legal cases involving rape or murder.
D)demonstrates a unique pattern of physiological arousal specifically associated with lying.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A polygraph:
A)measures physiological changes associated with emotions...

Question 14

As shown in the figure below, when faced with a potentially threatening stimulus, such as a snake dangling from a branch in front of you, two pathways in the brain are activated. The direct pathway involves _____and the indirect pathway involves _____. 
A)thalamus $\to$ amygdala; thalamus $\to$ visual cortex $\to$ amygdala
B)amygdala $\to$ thalamus $\to$ endocrine system; thalamus $\to$ amygdala $\to$ sympathetic nervous system $\to$ endocrine system
C)thalamus $\to$ visual cortex $\to$ amygdala; thalamus $\to$ amygdala
D)amygdala$\to$  thalamus; amygdala $\to$ visual cortex $\to$ thalamus

Accepted Answer

The answer of As shown in the figure below, when...

Question 15

Which neural pathway carries crude information about a threatening stimulus and activates a rapid instinctual alarm response?
A)the thalamus$\to$hypothalamus$\to$visual cortex pathway
B)the thalamus$\to$amygdala pathway
C)the cerebral cortex$\to$thalamus$\to$amygdala pathway
D)the thalamus$\to$visual cortex pathway

Accepted Answer

The thalamus-amygdala pathway carries crude information about a threatening stimulus and activates a rapid instinctual alarm response. This is known as the "low road" of emotional processing, while the cortex-based pathway (option C) is known as the "high road" and involves more detailed analysis of sensory information. The visual cortex pathway (options A and D) is involved in processing visual information, but does not play a primary role in the instinctual alarm response.

Question 16

Some emotions such as contentment:
A)involve intense physical reactions.
B)are characterized by decreased physical arousal.
C)contribute to high blood pressure and rapid heart rate.
D)have no effect on the body.

Accepted Answer

Contentment is characterized by decreased physical arousal, which means that there are no intense physical reactions or high blood pressure or rapid heart rate involved.

Question 17

Which process BEST accounts for the dual fear circuits in the brain identified by neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux?
A)motivation
B)evolution
C)cognitive-appraisal
D)self-determination

Accepted Answer

The dual fear circuits in the brain identified by neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux can best be accounted for by the evolutionary process. This suggests that the fear response is an adaptive mechanism that has evolved over time to help organisms survive in threatening or dangerous situations. LeDoux's research has shown that there are two interconnected fear circuits in the brain that are involved in processing fear information, and these circuits are thought to have evolved to help organisms rapidly respond to potential threats in their environment.

Question 18

Rats with a damaged amygdala:
A)will eat anything you feed them, never becoming satiated.
B)overproduce leptin and become extremely lean, despite eating several times their normal amount of calories daily.
C)cannot acquire a classically conditioned fear response.
D)are more easily classically conditioned to fear-inducing stimuli than rats with intact brains.

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is known to be involved in acquiring classically conditioned fear responses. Therefore, rats with damaged amygdalae cannot acquire these responses.

Answer: A 
 There is no evidence to suggest that damage to the amygdala affects appetite or satiety.

Answer: B 
 There is no evidence to suggest that damage to the amygdala affects leptin production or weight regulation.

Answer: D 
 This statement is incorrect. Rats with damaged amygdalae are actually less easily classically conditioned to fear-inducing stimuli than rats with intact brains.

Question 19

Which brain structure is activated first when people view threatening or fearful faces?
A)the amygdala
B)the hypothalamus
C)the cerebellum
D)the medulla

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for processing emotional information, particularly fear and threat. Research has shown that it is typically the first brain structure that is activated when people view threatening or fearful faces.

Question 20

People with a damaged amygdala:
A)overproduce leptin and become extremely thin.
B)are more easily classically conditioned to fear-inducing stimuli than people with intact brains.
C)overeat and gain weight.
D)lose the ability to distinguish between friendly and threatening faces.

Accepted Answer

The amygdala plays a crucial role in processing emotions, including fear and threat. A damaged amygdala can lead to a loss of the ability to distinguish between friendly and threatening faces, making it difficult to read social cues and respond appropriately. Options A and C are not linked to amygdala damage, and option B is not always the case as the amygdala is involved in both fear conditioning and fear inhibition.

Quiz 8: Section 2: Motivation and Emotion

In the indirect fear pathway described by Joseph LeDoux, what role is played by the cortex?

_____ are fleeting facial expressions that can serve as nonverbal cues indicating deception.

In studies investigating the physiological components of emotion, researchers have found:

The Focus on Neuroscience box, "Emotions and the Brain," described a PET scan study investigating brain activation when participants recalled different kinds of emotional memories. What were the results of this study?

Which statement BEST characterizes the relationship between emotions and physiological arousal?

When Jana took her first driving lesson, she experienced a number of physiological reactions, such as a racing heart, sweaty palms, and tension in her muscles. These physiological reactions involved the activation of her _____ nervous system.

Amae is a(n) :

Which of the following statements about polygraph tests is true?

The polygraph is commonly called a _____.

When you are threatened, you experience a rapidly occurring series of automatic physiological reactions. This response is known as:

A polygraph:

Which neural pathway carries crude information about a threatening stimulus and activates a rapid instinctual alarm response?

Some emotions such as contentment:

Which process BEST accounts for the dual fear circuits in the brain identified by neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux?

Rats with a damaged amygdala:

Which brain structure is activated first when people view threatening or fearful faces?

People with a damaged amygdala: