A client tells the nurse that he has bugs in his brain and asks the nurse if the nurse can see them. Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?

Choice A reason: Less assertiveness does not address anger’s neurobiology. Anger involves amygdala-driven norepinephrine and glutamate surges, and reducing assertiveness may suppress healthy expression, not resolve underlying neural hyperactivity, making this statement inaccurate for anger management.

Choice B reason: Suppressing anger is not positive, as it increases amygdala-driven stress and cortisol, potentially worsening emotional dysregulation. Healthy anger expression engages prefrontal cortex modulation, and suppression can exacerbate neural imbalances, making this statement false.

Choice C reason: Anger is a normal emotion, driven by amygdala activation and norepinephrine release. When channeled constructively, it engages prefrontal cortex regulation, facilitating conflict resolution by addressing underlying issues, making this a true and therapeutic statement about anger’s role.

Choice D reason: Punching a wall is destructive, escalating amygdala-driven aggression and norepinephrine surges without resolving conflict. It risks reinforcing maladaptive neural pathways, increasing impulsivity, and does not engage prefrontal cortex for healthy anger management, making this false.

Choice A reason: The amygdala regulates emotional responses like anger and aggression, with excessive norepinephrine and glutamate signaling driving hyperarousal. Its connections to the prefrontal cortex modulate impulsive behaviors, making it the primary structure for aggressive responses in emotional dysregulation.

Choice B reason: The parietal lobe processes sensory and spatial information, not emotions like anger. Aggression involves amygdala-prefrontal cortex interactions, not parietal functions, making this structure irrelevant to the neural basis of anger and aggressive behavior.

Choice C reason: The cerebellum coordinates motor activity and balance, not emotional regulation. Anger and aggression stem from amygdala-driven hyperarousal, not cerebellar function, which lacks direct involvement in emotional processing or behavioral impulsivity.

Choice D reason: The basal ganglia modulate movement and reward, not directly anger or aggression. While dopamine dysregulation may contribute, the amygdala’s role in emotional arousal is primary, making the basal ganglia secondary in this context.