Westen and His Colleagues Used FMRI to Examine the Activation

Multiple Choice

Westen and his colleagues used fMRI to examine the activation of brain areas of committed Democrats and Republicans when confronted with statements by their favored candidates that were inconsistent with their party's positions. Initially, participants showed an increase in activation of the amygdala. This effect may have occurred because the amygdala is:

A) a limbic system structure associated with processing of fear and anxiety in response to threats.
B) the area in the back of the brain that is activated when the brain must resolve a conflict or discrepancy.
C) a part of the prefrontal cortex responsible for the cognitive aspects of decision making.
D) a part of the temporal part of the brain responsible for remembering decisions.