A lab mouse had their amygdala deactivated and then was shown a cat through a plexiglass screen. Compare how a normal mouse might react to a cat, compared to a mouse with a deactivated amygdala.

• A. Normal mouse: fear / Lab mouse: fear.
• B. Normal mouse: fear / Lab mouse: uninterested.
• C. Normal mouse: uninterested / Lab mouse: fear.
• D. Normal mouse: uninterested / Lab mouse: uninterested.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of the amygdala: The amygdala is a part of the brain involved in processing emotions such as fear. It plays a crucial role in how animals, including mice, respond to threats.
2. Consider the normal mouse's reaction: A normal mouse, with an active amygdala, would likely experience fear when seeing a cat, as the amygdala would process the cat as a threat.
3. Analyze the lab mouse's condition: The lab mouse has its amygdala deactivated, meaning it cannot process fear in the same way as a normal mouse.
4. Predict the lab mouse's reaction: Without the amygdala's influence, the lab mouse may not recognize the cat as a threat and therefore might not exhibit fear.
5. Compare the reactions: A normal mouse would show fear due to the amygdala's response to the threat, while the lab mouse, with a deactivated amygdala, would likely be uninterested or show no fear response.