amygdala

American  

[uh-mig-duh-luh] / əˈmɪg də lə /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

amygdalae

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 /

plural

amygdalae

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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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; almond

Example Sentences

Yes, the amygdala can generate a fear-driven flight response in the face of imminent threat.

From The Wall Street Journal

The amygdala, which helps determine whether situations feel safe or dangerous, and the prefrontal cortex, which plays a role in planning and decision-making, both respond differently in people with anxiety.

From Science Daily

To test this, they worked with three mouse models of ASD and examined synapse-related protein levels, tracked amygdala activity using calcium imaging, and evaluated social behavior.

From Science Daily

The discovery, published in iScience, shows that restoring the balance of neuronal excitability within a precise part of the amygdala can reverse these behavioral changes in mice.

From Science Daily

Semantic concept neurons have also been found in different parts of the MTL, such as the amygdala and the entorhinal cortex.

From Salon