Question

You are generally not aware of the texture of the cloth of your shirt as it rests on your shoulders, unless someone or something happens to make you think of it. What part of the brain is responsible for filtering out such stimuli?

A) Reticular activating center
B) Primary motor area
C) Postcentral gyrus
D) Cerebellum

Answer 1

The Reticular Activating Center is responsible for filtering out unnecessary sensory stimuli, like the texture of your shirt, by controlling arousal and the sleep-wake cycle.

Step-by-step explanation:

The part of the brain responsible for filtering out stimuli like the sensation of the cloth of your shirt is the Reticular Activating Center (A). The reticular activating system (RAS), also known as the reticular formation, is a diverse network of nerves found in the brainstem. This area of the brain is involved in controlling arousal and the sleep-wake cycle, acting as a sort of gate for the sensory stimuli that reach the brain. It helps filter out unnecessary information, such as the texture of your shirt on your shoulders, thus preventing sensory overload and allowing you to focus on more important tasks. This is essential for a process called selective attention, which allows you to direct your focus and ignore irrelevant stimuli.