amigdála

The amigdála, or amygdala, is an almond-shaped cluster of nuclei located in the medial temporal lobe. It is a central component of the limbic system and is involved in processing emotional significance, threat detection, and autonomic arousal.

Anatomy and connections: The amygdala consists of several nuclei organized into basolateral, centromedial, and cortical divisions. It receives inputs from the thalamus and sensory cortex and projects to the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and brainstem. This connectivity enables the integration of emotion with memory, attention, and action.

Functions: The amygdala plays a key role in fear learning and conditioning, emotional memory formation, and the rapid appraisal of biologically relevant stimuli. It modulates autonomic and hormonal responses via the hypothalamus and interacts with the hippocampus to tag memories with emotional significance, influencing learning and decision making.

Clinical relevance: Altered amygdala function is linked to anxiety disorders, PTSD, and related psychiatric conditions. Imaging studies often show amygdala hyper-reactivity to threat cues, while extensive damage can impair fear processing and social behavior. The structure is a frequent focus of research on emotion, memory, and behavior.

Imaging and study: Neuroimaging methods such as functional MRI and PET are commonly used to study amygdala activity in humans. Understanding its role helps explain how emotions shape learning, memory, attention, and adaptive or maladaptive behavior.