The amygdala (Latin, corpus amygdaloideum) is an almond-shape set of neurons located deep in the brain's medial temporal lobe.

Shown to play a key role in the processsing of emotions, the amygdala forms part of the limbic system.

In humans and other animals, this subcortical brain structure is linked to both fear responses and pleasure.

Its size is positively correlated with aggressive behavior across species.

In humans, it is the most sexually-dimorphic brain structure, and shrinks by more than 30% in males upon castration.

Conditions such as anxiety, autism, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and phobias are suspected of being linked to abnormal functioning of the amygdala, owing to damage, developmental problems, or neurotransmitter imbalance..

For more information about the topic Amygdala, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

Limbic system — The limbic system is the collective name for structures in the human brain involved in emotion, motivation, and emotional association with memory. It ...  > read more

Hypothalamus — In mammals, the hypothalamus is a region of the brain located below the thalamus, forming the major portion of the ventral region of the diencephalon ...  > read more

Temporal lobe — The temporal lobes are part of the cerebrum. They lie at the sides of the brain, beneath the lateral or Sylvian fissure. Seen in profile, the human ...  > read more

Occipital lobe — The occipital lobe is the visual processing center of the mammalian brain. The primary visual cortex is Brodmann area 17, located in the interior ...  > read more

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