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Brain physiology and psychological states

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Brain physiology and psychological states

by pritam.guha25 » Fri Sep 10, 2010 12:03 am
Further evidence of a connection between brain physiology and psychological states has recently been uncovered in the form of a correlation between electroencephalograph patterns and characteristic moods. A study showed that participants who suffered from clinical depression exhibited less left frontal lobe activity than right, while, conversely, characteristically good-natured participants exhibited greater left lobe activity. Thus one's general disposition is a result of the activity of one's frontal lobe.

Each of the following, if true, weakens the argument EXCEPT:
A. Many drugs prescribed to combat clinical depression act by causing increased left lobe activity.
B. Excessive sleep, a typical consequence of clinical depression, is known to suppress left lobe activity.
C. Frontal lobe activity is not subject to variation the way general disposition is.
D. Earlier studies indicated that frontal lobe activity and emotive states are both caused by activity in the brain's limbic activity
E. Social interaction of the kind not engaged in by most clinically depressed people is known to stimulate left lobe activity.

OA later
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by inactived » Fri Sep 10, 2010 1:47 am
Is the answer D?
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by goyalsau » Fri Sep 10, 2010 3:01 am
the correct answer is A,
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by goyalsau » Fri Sep 10, 2010 3:01 am
the correct answer is A,
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by pritam.guha25 » Fri Sep 10, 2010 4:04 am
I will be posting the answer soon. It will be really great if you guys come up with some sort of explanation.
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by lokesh r » Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:39 am
IMO A.

Many drugs prescribed to combat clinical depression act by causing increased left lobe activity.

Statement A strengthens the argument.

States that to increasing left lobe activity(physiology) decreases clinical depression (psychological state), implying connection b/w brain physiology and psychological state.
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by vishalj » Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:30 am
Cause -> Effect
Less left frontal lobe activity -> Clinial depression
and
Greater left lobe activity -> Good natured participants

To weaken, we need
1. A new cause for clinial depression
2. to show that when there is less left frontal lobe activity, there is no clinical depression
3. to show that when there is greater or no frontal lobe activity, there is clinial depression
4. to show that the clinical depression causes less frontal lobe activity

A. If many drugs can increase the left lobe activity to treat clinical depression, it confirms the above cause/effect ,i.e. the clinical depression is because of less left lobe activity. Correct Answer.
B. Excessive sleep is responsible for the less left lobe activity. New cause. Weaken.
C. Weaken since it is saying that there is no change in the activity.
D. My first point ( A new cause for clinial depression). So the limbic ( new cause) is causing the clinical depression. Weaken.
E. Less social interaction is responsible for the less left lobe activity. New cause. Weaken.

IMO A
Last edited by vishalj on Fri Sep 10, 2010 2:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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by bunaversallles » Fri Sep 10, 2010 12:36 pm
i agree with "D" too.
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by bunaversallles » Fri Sep 10, 2010 12:36 pm
i agree with "D" too.
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by diebeatsthegmat » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:48 pm
pritam.guha25 wrote:Further evidence of a connection between brain physiology and psychological states has recently been uncovered in the form of a correlation between electroencephalograph patterns and characteristic moods. A study showed that participants who suffered from clinical depression exhibited less left frontal lobe activity than right, while, conversely, characteristically good-natured participants exhibited greater left lobe activity. Thus one's general disposition is a result of the activity of one's frontal lobe.

Each of the following, if true, weakens the argument EXCEPT:
A. Many drugs prescribed to combat clinical depression act by causing increased left lobe activity.
B. Excessive sleep, a typical consequence of clinical depression, is known to suppress left lobe activity.
C. Frontal lobe activity is not subject to variation the way general disposition is.
D. Earlier studies indicated that frontal lobe activity and emotive states are both caused by activity in the brain's limbic activity
E. Social interaction of the kind not engaged in by most clinically depressed people is known to stimulate left lobe activity.

OA later
i believe that A strengthen/confirm the conclusion but i somehow dont understand B....and how to eli
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