Brain researchers lesion part of a rat's brain. The rat continues to have normal vision and hearing, but now has difficulty telling whether a stimulus is a threat. The rat also shows difficulty modulating its emotional behavior. It is likely that the researchers lesioned which area of the rat brain?
A) brain stem
B) limbic system
C) cerebral cortex
D) sympathetic nervous system

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The limbic system is involved in processing emotions, such as fear and aggression, and in modulating emotional behaviors. Lesioning this area of the rat's brain would lead to difficulty in recognizing threats and modulating emotional behaviors. The brain stem and sympathetic nervous system are more involved in basic physiological functions, such as heart rate and digestion. The cerebral cortex is involved in higher order cognitive functions, such as perception, attention, and decision making, but lesioning this area of the brain would lead to more specific deficits depending on the location of the lesion.

Brain Researchers Lesion Part of a Rat's Brain