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; 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

Planning is for weaklings, rational analysis is disdained, the amygdala and the gut replace the cerebral cortex.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

The mixture also reduced the abnormal overactivity of neurons in the amygdala.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2025

"We already knew the amygdala was involved in anxiety and fear, but now we've identified a specific population of neurons whose imbalanced activity alone is sufficient to trigger pathological behaviors," explains Lerma.

From Science Daily • Nov. 4, 2025

“The simulations stimulate the amygdala* which is responsible for processing fear, induce a hallucination based on that fear, and then transmit the data to a computer to be processed and observed.”

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth