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

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

In mice, activation of GLP-1 receptors on cells in the central amygdala activates a newly identified brain circuit that suppresses signals driving pleasure-based eating.

From Science Daily • Nov. 18, 2025

In other research, even people who did not have a working amygdala still experienced fear.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 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