u0422811 wrote:
Further evidence of a connection between brain physiology and psychological states has recently been uncovered in the form of a correlation between electrencephalograph 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 system.
(e) Social interaction of the kind not engaged in by most clinically depressed people is known to stimulate left lobe activity.
Information provided in first clause is not of any use.
Further evidence of a connection between brain physiology and psychological states has recently been uncovered in the form of a correlation between electrencephalograph patterns and characteristic moods.
Remaining information make some sense to solve this question.
Premise 1 :
A study showed that participants who suffered from clinical depression exhibited less left frontal lobe activity than right, (left frontal lobe vs right frontal lobe)
Premise 2:
conversely, characteristically good-natured participants exhibited greater left lobe activity. (left lobe vs right lobe)
Conclusion:
Thus one's general disposition is a result of the activity of one's frontal lobe. Conclusion is based on overall frontal lobe activity.
lobes are super-set > left frontal lobe and right frontal lobe or frontal lobes are sub-set.
Lets try to find relationship between all these lobes:
This question is bit difficult because relation between Premise 1 and 2 is not concrete it is just based on one of the many assumptions.
Thus we should use negation to validate our assumption.
In a good nurtured person author says overall left lobe activity is higher than right lobe. Thus, I can assume
left frontal lobe is highly active in good natured person compared to his right frontal lobe. If I negate it and I say left frontal lobe is not highly active than Premise 1 fails. With this assumption we can relate Premise 1 and Premise 2 and set a relation between them.
Prethinking: Anything which says by improving the activity of left frontal lobe a person can become good nature-rd.
I used POE to get the answer because this question is not that straightforward to allow above mentioned analysis in less than 2 min.
(a) Many drugs prescribed to combat clinical depression act by causing increased left lobe activity. (Suspect)
(b) Excessive sleep, a typical consequence of clinical depression, is known to suppress left lobe activity. ( this option is not a strengthener, it is just describing one symptom and not telling how it affects one's disposition)
(c) Frontal lobe activity is not subject to variation the way general disposition is. ( Weakener : rejecting the relationship between disposition and Frontal lobe activity )
(d) Earlier studies indicated that frontal lobe activity and emotive states are both caused by activity in the brain's limbic system. (Out of context, Only a neurologist can help us to understand how limbic system and disposition are related)
(e) Social interaction of the kind not engaged in by most clinically depressed people is known to stimulate left lobe activity. ( In depressed people something is responsible to stimulate left lobe activity, we do not know whether it decrease or increase the activity or how disposition is related)
After 3 min of brain exercise:
(a) Many drugs prescribed to combat clinical depression act by causing increased left lobe activity. (Suspect)
Why a doctor prescribes drugs to a clinically depressed patient ? Ans : to help him or her out to improve his or her mental condition or I can say to improve his or her disposition. Thus, by improving one's left lobe activity a doctor can improve one's disposition.