amygdala

American  

[uh-mig-duh-luh] / əˈmɪg də lə /

noun

Anatomy.

amygdalae plural

1. an almond-shaped part, as a tonsil.

2. a ganglion of the limbic system adjoining the temporal lobe of the brain and involved in emotions of fear and aggression.

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amygdala British  

/ əˈmɪɡdələ /

noun

1. anatomy an almond-shaped part, such as a tonsil or a lobe of the cerebellum

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amygdala Scientific  

/ ə-mĭg′də-lə /

amygdalae plural

1. An almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the front part of the temporal lobe of the cerebrum that is part of the limbic system and is involved in the processing and expression of emotions, especially anger and fear.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• amygdalae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of amygdala

before 950; < Medieval Latin: almond, tonsil, Latin: almond < Greek amygdálē; replacing Middle English amygdal, Old English amigdal almond < Latin amygdalon < Greek amýgdalon; cf. almond

Explanation

Think of the tiny, almond-shaped amygdala as the brain's alarm system. It sits in the front part of the brain’s temporal lobe and plays a starring role in the limbic system, sparking our emotional and behavioral reactions. The amygdala (pronounced uh-MIG-duh-luh) is crucial for emotional responses and survival instincts. It helps us react to potential threats by triggering fear responses, but it's also involved in recognizing pleasure and rewards. This brain region helps to store memories of emotional events, making it essential for learning from past experiences. Understanding the amygdala can give insights into various psychological conditions, including anxiety disorders, as it is heavily involved in how we perceive and react to the world around us.

Example Sentences

Amygdala resting connectivity mediates association between maternal aggression and adolescent major depression: a 7-year longitudinal study.

From Nature • Feb. 20, 2018

I faced Amygdala, the One Reborn, Micolash and finally Mergo’s Wet Nurse, and all of them barely put up a fight.

From Forbes • Apr. 7, 2015

Amygdala circuitry mediating reversible and bidirectional control of anxiety.

From Scientific American • Jul. 23, 2012

Lisa Feldman Barrett and colleagues correlate amygdala volume and the size and complexity of a person's social network in "Amygdala volume and social network size in humans," published in the February issue of Nature Neuroscience.

From Scientific American • Sep. 6, 2011