Amygdules

Amygdules is not a standard term in modern neuroanatomy. In many texts it appears as a variant spelling or an outdated synonym for the amygdala, a pair of almond-shaped nuclei located in the medial temporal lobes and forming a core component of the limbic system. The amygdalae are bilateral, with one located in each hemisphere. They receive and integrate sensory information from various cortical and subcortical areas and project to multiple brain regions, enabling rapid appraisal of emotional significance and coordination of autonomic and behavioral responses.

Structure: In humans, the amygdala is subdivided into several nuclei groups, including the basolateral complex, central nucleus, and cortical nuclei, each contributing to different aspects of processing emotional stimuli, memory, and action selection.

Function: The amygdala participates in fear conditioning, emotional learning, threat assessment, and the processing of salient stimuli. It tags memories with emotional significance to enhance consolidation in the hippocampus and interacts with the prefrontal cortex to regulate responses and decision-making. It also plays a role in social behavior and affective processing.

Clinical relevance: Abnormal amygdala activity has been linked to anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, autism spectrum disorders, and some mood disorders. Lesions or disinhibition can blunt fear responses or produce agitated or impaired emotional processing. Functional changes may occur with stress, trauma, or neurodegenerative diseases.

Terminology: The term amygdules is uncommon in current literature; amygdala is the preferred term, with the plural amygdalae (or, in informal usage, amygdalas).