amygdala
Brain's alarm center
The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure deep in the brain, part of the limbic system.
It processes emotions, particularly fear and aggression, and plays a central role in forming emotional memories.
When you feel a surge of panic or recall a traumatic event vividly, your amygdala is at work.
Plural: amygdalae or amygdalas.
Acute threat reaction
- startleFrighten suddenly
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
dread · terror · alarm · hypervigilance · freezing · avoidance · aversion · danger-signal
Memory formation region
- thalamusBrain's signal switchboard
- hypothalamusSubthalamic regulatory brain region
- insulaBuried cortical lobe
- brainstemLower neural trunk
nucleus · cerebrum · cortex · subcortical
Chronic reaction to horrific events
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- depressionProlonged low state
- autismNeurodevelopmental processing difference
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
bipolar · hyperactivation · lesion · dysregulation · trauma · psychopathy · OCD
fight-or-flight
Acute threat reaction
anxiety · dread · terror · alarm · hypervigilance · freezing · avoidance · aversion · danger-signal · cortisol
hippocampus
Memory formation region
- thalamusBrain's signal switchboard
- hypothalamusSubthalamic regulatory brain region
- insulaBuried cortical lobe
brainstem · nucleus · cerebrum · cortex · subcortical
PTSD
Chronic reaction to horrific events
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
- depressionProlonged low state
- autismNeurodevelopmental processing difference
schizophrenia · bipolar · hyperactivation · lesion · dysregulation · trauma · psychopathy · OCD
salience
State of standing out
reward · punishment · anger · disgust · pleasure · bonding · attachment · empathy · mood · affect
almond
Edible tree nut
- limbic systemhippocampus, hypothalamus, fornix, mammillary bodies, entorhinal cortex
- anatomybrain, heart, bones, liver, stomach
- braincerebrum, cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus
- brain anatomybrain, cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, cortex
- brain sciencebrain scan, brain research, brain map, brain imaging, brain chemistry
- nervous systembrain, neurons, nerves, spinal cord, axon
amygdalaprefrontal cortex
Brain's planning and impulse center
frontal lobe · neocortex · cerebral cortex · cortex · hippocampus
amygdalareward system
Mechanism reinforcing desired behaviors