Question

In an experiment where an adult female rat's amygdala is inhibited/blocked, which of the following behaviors are we MOST likely to observe, according to the reading on Hormones and Behavior?

a) Increased aggression
b) Decreased anxiety
c) Enhanced learning and memory
d) Heightened maternal behavior

Answer 1

Blocking the amygdala in adult female rats is likely to result in decreased anxiety, considering the amygdala's role in fear and anxiety-related behaviors, as observed in animal research studies.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an experiment where an adult female rat's amygdala is inhibited or blocked, we are most likely to observe decreased anxiety according to the reading on Hormones and Behavior. Studies have shown that the amygdala plays a critical role in fear and anxiety-related behaviors. For instance, when the amygdala is active in rat pups separated from their mother, they learn to fear certain stimuli. In contrast, when the amygdala is not activated in the presence of their mother, the fear response is absent, indicating a role in anxiety modulation. Similarly, alterations in the function of the amygdala due to negative early life experiences can lead to depressive-like symptoms in adolescent rats, suggesting again the involvement of the amygdala in anxiety and mood disorders. Therefore, inhibition of the amygdala would likely result in a reduction of anxiety behaviors.