Functions of the Amygdala by Kyler Samples

    

      The amygdala is a pair of subcortical nuclei located just below the frontal part of the temporal lobe on either side of the brain. Named aptly for its almond-like shape, it is central in the perception of others’ emotions and the expressing of emotions by oneself. The amygdala is a sort of emotional “gatekeeper”, in that it is responsible for regulation of when to respond and with what emotion in startling, fear response situations.

     The size of the amygdala positively reflects physical aggression and sexual activity and will grow in size when those things are often practiced (Jacobs & Cornelissen, 2017). The amygdala has been long thought to be a part of the Limbic System, however, its inclusion in that system has become a topic of debate, some believing that the amygdala acts too independently to be a part of any specific system.

     In a study by Diano, Celeghin, Bagnis, Tamietto, Avenanti, and Kret (2017), it is pointed out that the amygdala is also responsible for the emotional response of fear, conscious or not. Fear is not a weakness when properly exerted; it is a trigger for the “fight or flight” behavior found commonly in animal instinct and can preserve the longevity of an organism. The amygdala helps store memories of events and emotions, training the brain to better recognize anything that may trigger a fight or flight instinct. Overactive amygdalae, however, can be problematic. The “startle circuit” of the brain, which controls how and when we startle, is controlled by the amygdala (Diano, et al., 2017). If the startle circuit is triggered too many times in response to many different scenarios, it may cause a person to become weary and jumpy in normally safe situations. Damaged or heavily abused amygdalae can be the cause of a number of behavioral changes, linked to hypersexuality, loss of emotion, loss of fear and depression. 

References

Diano, M., Celeghin, A., Bagnis, A., Tamietto, M., Avenanti, A., Kret, M., E. (2017). Amygdala response to emotional stimuli without awareness: Facts and interpretations. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1-13.

Jacobs, R. H. A. H., Cornelissan, F. W. (2017). An explanation for the role of the amygdala in aesthetic judgment. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 1-7.