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- As the amygdala has connections to many other brain structures, this means it can link to areas in order to process ‘higher’ cognitive information with systems that control ‘lower’ functions (such as autonomic responses like breathing, touch, and sensitivity).
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Does the amygdala function independently of other structures?
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What is the role of the amygdalae in the brain?
May 31, 2021 · However, the amygdala does not function independently of other structures, but is part of larger neural circuits involving sensory systems, the motor system, the hippocampus (that provides contextual information) and the PFC (responsible for regulation of amygdala reactivity, so that hypofunction of the PFC will lead to amygdala hyperreactivity).
- What Is The Amygdala?
- What Does The Amygdala do?
- What Does The Research Say?
- Amygdala Hijack
- What Happens If The Amygdala Is damaged?
- References
- Further Reading
The amygdala is primarily involved in the processing of emotions and memories associated with fear. The amygdala is part of the limbic systemwithin the brain and is key to how we process strong emotions like fear or pleasure. As the amygdala has connections to many other brain structures, this means it can link to areas in order to process ‘higher’...
Emotion Learning
The amygdala plays a distinctive role in mediating many aspects of emotional learning as well as emotional behavior. An emotion the amygdala is particularly responsible for is controlling fear. Using Pavlovian conditioningcan cause something called fear conditioning to occur. This is when an otherwise neutral stimulus is paired with an innately aversive unconditioned stimulus. For example, producing a loud banging noise (aversive stimulus) each time a person is shown an image of a particular...
Memory Formation
An area in which the amygdala is most prominent is the formation of memories, especially those that are emotional. As the amygdala is remarkably close to, and forms connections with the hippocampus (a memory structure of the brain), these two often work together to make memories more memorable. The amygdala can attribute emotions to memories. Essentially, the more emotive the memory, the more likely it is to be remembered. For instance, the birth of a child is typically a highly emotive posit...
Aggression
The amygdala is the most important part of the limbic system for many emotions, including aggression. The reactivity of the amygdala is a good predictor of aggression. Groves and Schlesinger (1982) found that surgical removal of the amygdala reduces aggression in previously violent individuals. In animal studies, stimulation of the amygdala produces aggressive behavior. Removal of the amygdala from monkeys, rats, and humans reduces aggression.
Social Behavior
Regarding social behavior, the basolateral part of the amygdala, which sends signals to the hippocampus, has shown it is able to modulate social behaviors in a bidirectional manner (Ada, Felix-Ortiz, & Tye, 2014). The volume of the amygdala has also been shown to positively correlate to the number of social contacts and the number of social groups a person belongs to (Bickart, Wright, Dautoff, Dickerson, & Barrett, 2011). Essentially, the more friends and friend groups someone has, the bigger...
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation has been suggested to be linked to structural differences in the amygdala. Homosexual males tend to show patterns in their amygdala similar to those of heterosexual females. These two groups tend to have more widespread connections in their left amygdala. Likewise, homosexual females tend to show patterns alike to heterosexual men and have more widespread right amygdala connections (Swaab, 2007).
Stress
Studies suggest that acute and chronic stressors are strongly associated with neuronal activity within the amygdala (Correll, Rosenkranz, & Grace, 2005). Similarly, synaptic plasticity (the ability for synapses to strengthen or weaken over time) within the amygdala is implied to be affected by exposure to stress (Vouimba, Yaniv, Diamond, & Richter-Lerin, 2004).
The amygdala can be stimulated when faced with a perceived threat. If in a threatening situation, the amygdala will send information to other parts of the brain to prepare the body to either face the situation or to get away from it. Emotions of fear, anxiety, aggression, and anger trigger this fight-or-flight response. It is beneficial that the am...
If there are damages or differences in amygdala structure and function, one may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Arehart-Treichel, J. (2014). Changes in Children’s Amygdala Seen After Anxiety Treatment. Bickart, K. C., Wright, C. I., Dautoff, R. J., Dickerson, B. C., & Barrett, L. F. (2011). Amygdala volume and social network size in humans. Nature Neuroscience, 14(2), 163-164. Blumberg, H., Kaufman, J., & Martin, A. (2005). Amygdala and Hippocampal Volumes i...
Apr 11, 2023 · The amygdala is a paired structure (the two are considered one brain area) inside your temporal lobe. It's a key part of emotional control and processes. It also plays a role in memory and learning.
Jul 17, 2023 · Structure and Function. The amygdala is an almond-shaped structure that lies in the temporal lobe, lying just beneath the uncus. The amygdala is diverse and complex in structure and comprises approximately 13 nuclei. They further subdivide into extensive internuclear and intranuclear connections.
- Qais AbuHasan, Vamsi Reddy, Waquar Siddiqui
- 2023/07/17
May 20, 2024 · The amygdala is a region of the brain primarily associated with emotional processes. It is located in the medial temporal lobe, just anterior to (in front of) the hippocampus. Similar to the hippocampus, the amygdala is a paired structure, with one located in each hemisphere of the brain.
Nov 3, 2023 · On the other hand, fibers from the centromedial nucleus are directed caudally towards the brainstem, in order to end in the raphe nuclei, along with other structures such as periaqueductal gray and the locus coeruleus. These structures also send their fibers back to the amygdala.
Oct 20, 2023 · Structure. The amygdalae are clusters of neurons that typically barely make up 0.3% of total brain volume. Its evolution in human and animal biology is not entirely clear, but research has shown that amygdala size is somewhat positively correlated with a person’s social network and its complexity.
