AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The low-road pathway from the thalamus to the amygdala most directly contributes to automatic emotional responses. The high road pathway for emotional responses extends through the cortex.

Detailed explanation-2: -The other route, the ‘high road’ is a cortical route, as it goes via the cortex: ear → thalamus → cortex → amygdala. It is longer, slower and indirect, but provides more detailed information about the stimulus, and allows conscious awareness and assessment of it.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Low Road is highly evolutionary conserved direct emotional pathway designed to protect individuals from life-threatening danger, and is designed to elicit defensive responses without conscious thought.

Detailed explanation-4: -Information about an external stimulus reaches the amygdala by two ways: by a direct pathway from the thalamus and by an indirect pathway from the thalamus via the cortex to the amygdala. The direct pathway is shorter and faster, but therefore provides only a crude representation of the stimulus.