amygdalae
Fear processing centers
Amygdalae is the plural of amygdala, the almond-shaped mass of gray matter in each brain hemisphere that processes emotions, especially fear and aggression.
The amygdalae work together to form emotional memories and trigger fight-or-flight responses: Brain scans showed heightened activity in both amygdalae when subjects viewed threatening images.
Memory formation region
- thalamusBrain's signal switchboard
- hypothalamusSubthalamic regulatory brain region
- cerebrumBrain's largest division
- neuronsSignal-transmitting brain cells
synapses · insula · brainstem · nuclei · bilateral · medial · lateral · central
Relating to emotions
- valenceCombining power measure
- arousalStirring to heightened state
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
stress · empathy · reward · motivation · salience · conditioning
Acute threat reaction
- startleFrighten suddenly
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
phobia · hypervigilance · aversive · danger · survival · autonomic · freezing · avoidance
Chronic reaction to horrific events
- phobiasIrrational intense fears
- depressionProlonged low state
- autismNeurodevelopmental processing difference
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
psychopathy · lesion · hyperactivity · hypoactivity · dysregulation · trauma
Elliptical with pointed ends
hippocampus
Memory formation region
- thalamusBrain's signal switchboard
- hypothalamusSubthalamic regulatory brain region
- cerebrumBrain's largest division
neurons · synapses · insula · brainstem · nuclei · bilateral · medial · lateral · central · cortical
affective
Relating to emotions
anxiety · stress · empathy · reward · motivation · salience · conditioning
fight-or-flight
Acute threat reaction
terror · phobia · hypervigilance · aversive · danger · survival · autonomic · freezing · avoidance
PTSD
Chronic reaction to horrific events
- phobiasIrrational intense fears
- depressionProlonged low state
- autismNeurodevelopmental processing difference
schizophrenia · psychopathy · lesion · hyperactivity · hypoactivity · dysregulation · trauma
almond-shaped
Elliptical with pointed ends
amygdalaereason
Basis or justification
rationality · logic · deliberation · executive function · analytical thinking