Question

Which of the following describes evidence for the brain's dual-processing ability?

a. The amygdala shares responsibility for some basic emotions with the hypothalamus and endocrine system.
b. The right occipital lobe perceives stimuli from our left visual field.
c. The brainstem keeps our heart beating while the cerebral cortex maintains awareness of the outside world.
d. The cerebral cortex is divided into two sets of lobes on each hemisphere.
e. The corpus callosum allows impulses to travel between the two hemispheres

Answer 1

The brain's dual-processing ability is supported by the right occipital lobe perceiving stimuli from the left visual field, the corpus callosum allowing communication between the hemispheres, and the brainstem and cerebral cortex performing different functions simultaneously.

Step-by-step explanation:

Evidence for the brain's dual-processing ability can be seen in several ways. One example is that the right occipital lobe of the brain perceives stimuli from our left visual field, showing that different parts of the brain are responsible for processing different types of information.

Another example is the corpus callosum, which allows impulses to travel between the two hemispheres of the brain. This allows for coordination and communication between the hemispheres, demonstrating their ability to work together.

Lastly, the brainstem keeps our heart beating while the cerebral cortex maintains awareness of the outside world. This division of labor shows that different parts of the brain can simultaneously engage in different functions.

Answer 2

The correct option that describes evidence for the brain's dual-processing ability is c. The brainstem keeps our heart beating while the cerebral cortex maintains awareness of the outside world. This shows the brain's capacity to manage vital functions and conscious awareness simultaneously.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking for evidence of the brain's dual-processing ability, that is, how the brain can process information on two separate tracks, one conscious and one unconscious. Among the options given, the evidence that most directly supports the concept of dual processing in terms of cognitive and emotional functioning is option c. The brainstem keeps our heart beating while the cerebral cortex maintains awareness of the outside world. This demonstrates the brain's capacity to handle automatic, essential life functions like heartbeat through the brainstem, which operates mostly without conscious awareness, while simultaneously allowing the cerebral cortex to engage in more complex, conscious processing such as maintaining awareness and responding to the external environment.

Robert Zajonc and Joseph LeDoux's work supports this understanding by highlighting how some emotional responses, like fear, can occur with minimal to no cognitive processing—occurring directly through pathways from the thalamus to the amygdala, bypassing the cerebral cortex. Meanwhile, the other option (a) pertains to the amygdala's role in basic emotions, (b) focuses on visual field processing, (d) describes the division of the cerebral cortex into lobes, and (e) talks about the corpus callosum's function in connecting the hemispheres, which, while all about the brain, are not direct evidence of dual-processing. In the final part of your answer to the question, mention that option c is the correct choice, as it provides clear evidence for the dual-processing capabilities of the brain.