In a conditioned emotional response (CER) study, a tone is paired with a foot shock for a rat. After several trials, the tone alone is a CS that can elicit fear emotional responses. Which of the following is true of the anatomy of this fear response?
A) The central nucleus of the amygdala integrates the pairing of tone and shock information.
B) Tone information is relayed directly to the central nucleus of the amygdala.
C) The lateral nucleus of the amygdala integrates the pairing of tone and shock information.
D) Damage to the lateral nucleus of the amygdala impairs perceptual learning, but not CER learning.
E) Damage to the central nucleus of the amygdala impairs perceptual learning, but not CER learning.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The central nucleus of the amygdala is responsible for integrating the pairing of tone and shock information in a CER study. This integration leads to behavioral and physiological responses associated with fear. The lateral nucleus of the amygdala is involved in the initial processing of sensory information, but not in the integration of tone and shock information. Damage to the central nucleus of the amygdala impairs the CER learning, while damage to the lateral nucleus impairs perceptual learning but not CER learning.

In a Conditioned Emotional Response (CER) Study, a Tone Is