December 11, 2023 21:37 |
Updated: December 11, 2023 22:06
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Social and Cultural Sciences and Religion. Illustration source: PEXELS
The amygdala, a small structure in the brain, functions as the center for processing emotions and integrating this with memory, learning and sensory perception. Amygdala dysfunction can cause or contribute to a variety of disturbing feelings and symptoms.
Let’s get to know more about “the Almond” in the human brain.
Getting to know the Amygdala
The amygdala, shaped like an almond, is a small structure in the human brain. “Amygdala” comes from a Greek word meaning “almond.” The amygdala is small, its size depends on the overall size of the human brain. The amygdala is slightly darker in color than the surrounding brain tissue.
Human brain tissue, including the amygdala, consists of neurons that transmit electrical and chemical signals, as well as glial cells that protect the neurons. These neurons form fibers that combine into nuclei, with the amygdala having 13 nuclei.
The amygdala, part of the limbic system in the brain, is essential for survival with its role in the automatic detection of danger, regulation of behavior and emotions, and learning processes. The amygdala is primary in processing fear, anger, appetite, aggression, and sexual urges.
Amygdala and monkeys
Research conducted by Heinrich Klver and Paul Bucy in the 1930s produced important findings regarding the function of the amygdala in monkeys. They conducted experiments by removing the amygdala and several other brain structures from monkeys. The result of this removal, which became known as Klver-Bucy Syndrome.
After removal of the amygdala, the monkey’s behavioral changes included: loss of fear and aggression responses, becoming docile, hyperorality (putting excessive objects in the mouth), hypersexuality (increased sexual activity), hypermetamorphosis (obsession with touching or exploring), and impaired visual recognition, suggesting a role for the amygdala in the introduction process.
Amygdala and fear
Fear is a major emotion known to be controlled by the amygdala. The amygdala will process things it sees or hears and then processes them and learns what is dangerous. So, when the same thing happens in the future, the Amygdala will give rise to fear or similar emotions.
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2023-12-11 14:37:00
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