The amygdala is the part of thebrainprimarily involved in emotion, memory, and the fight-or-flight response.
It is one of two almond-shaped cell clusters located near the base of the brain.
The amygdalae interpret external stimuli like sights and sounds as potentially dangerous and send that information to the hippocampus.
KATERYNA KON / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
This is called anamygdala hijack.
Variations can have a significant impact on overall brain functioning.
The cerebral cortex (outermost portion of the brain) is divided into four major lobes.
The temporal lobe is where your amygdalae reside, just in front of your hippocampus.
This function helps you learn from past experiences and influences future reward-based decision-making.
This could lead to lower self-esteem and general life dissatisfaction.
DBS treatment focusing on the amygdala offers potential, but again, more research is required.
Such drastic changes are the result of amygdala lesions damaging both temporal lobes of the brain.
Harvard Health Publishing.Understanding the stress response.
2012 Apr 26;5:55. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2012.00055
Ressler KJ.Amygdala activity, fear, and anxiety: modulation by stress.Biol Psychiatry.
2018;41(9):559-563. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2018.06.009.x
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Lipoid proteinosis of urbach and wiethe.
Kluver-bucy syndrome.NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders).
2009 Jan;66(1):125-129. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2008.517.x
