The cannon-bard theory of emotions would predict that people with severe spinal cord injuries would
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The Cannon-Bard theory of emotions posits that emotions and physiological responses (such as heart rate increase or sweating) occur simultaneously and independently in response to a stimulus. According to this theory, when an individual experiences an emotionally significant event, the brain processes the emotional response while sending simultaneous signals to the body, triggering physical reactions. In contrast to the James-Lange theory, which asserts that physiological changes lead to the experience of emotions, Cannon-Bard argues that both occur at the same time without one causing the other.
When applying this theory to individuals with severe spinal cord injuries, Cannon-Bard would predict that these individuals should still experience emotions in the same way as people without such injuries. This is because the theory emphasizes that emotional experience is mediated by the brain (specifically the thalamus), which generates emotional responses independently of the body’s physical reactions.
Even if someone has lost the ability to feel sensations or control movement below the site of injury due to spinal damage, the Cannon-Bard theory suggests that they would still be capable of experiencing emotions because the brain’s emotional response system remains intact. For example, if someone with a spinal cord injury witnesses a frightening event, the brain would still generate feelings of fear even though they might not experience the usual accompanying physical sensations like increased heart rate or muscle tension as strongly, if at all.
This contrasts with the James-Lange theory, which would argue that diminished physiological feedback would result in a weaker or altered emotional experience. Cannon-Bard, however, focuses on the central role of the brain in emotion, maintaining that spinal cord injuries should not impair the subjective experience of emotions themselves. Therefore, individuals with spinal cord injuries would still feel emotions like fear, joy, or sadness, independent of changes in their physical reactions.