Amygdala [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== Amygdala ======





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{{::amygdala.jpg?400|}}
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The amygdala is situated in the [[medial temporal lobe]], on either side of the brain, near the [[hippocampus]]. It is part of the [[limbic system]], a group of brain structures involved in [[emotion]]s, [[memory]], and [[motivation]].

===== Nuclei =====

The amygdala is composed of several nuclei, each with its own functions. The main nuclei include:

Basolateral Nuclei (BL): Involved in the processing and integration of sensory information.

[[Central nucleus of the amygdala]] (CeA): Plays a key role in emotional responses, including the expression of fear.

Corticomedial Nuclei (CM): Associated with olfactory and visceral (internal organ) processing.

===== Connections =====

The amygdala is extensively connected to other brain regions, allowing it to receive and send information. Some of the key connections include:

[[Hippocampus]]: Involved in memory formation.

[[Thalamus]]: Relays sensory information to the amygdala.

[[Hypothalamus]]: Regulates physiological responses to emotions, such as the "fight or flight" response.

Prefrontal Cortex: Involved in the regulation of emotional responses and decision-making.
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The amygdalae (singular: amygdala; /əˈmɪɡdələ/; also corpus amygdaloideum; Latin, from Greek ἀμυγδαλή, amygdalē, 'almond', 'tonsil', listed in the Gray's Anatomy textbook as the nucleus amygdalæ, (translation from Arabic al-lauzatani) are almond-shaped groups of [[nuclei]] located deep and medially within the [[temporal lobe]]s of the brain in complex vertebrates, including humans. Shown in research to perform a primary role in the processing of [[memory]], [[decision-making]], and [[emotion]]al reactions, the amygdalae are considered part of the [[limbic system]].

===== MRI =====
{{:pasted:20231123-101424.png?400}}

===== Approaches =====

In [[1958]], Niemeyer described a more selective [[approach]] to the [[hippocampus]] and [[amygdala]] through the [[middle temporal gyrus]]
((Niemeyer P, Baldwin M, Bailey P. The [[transventricular]] [[amygdala]]-[[hippocampectomy]] in [[temporal lobe epilepsy]]. In: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Springfield: Charles C Thomas; 1958:461–482)).




===== Function =====

The human [[amygdala]] and hippocampus play important roles in [[face perception]], but it remains unclear how task demands or evaluative contexts modulate neural face processing, especially at the single-neuron level in the human brain. In a study, Cao et al. comprehensively analyzed how task instruction modulates key aspects of face processing, including low-level facial features such as face shape and texture, social trait judgment of faces such as trustworthiness and dominance, as well as neural correlates of eye movement when viewing faces. This comprehensive survey of task modulation of face processing reveals both flexible and invariant neuronal processes in the human brain
((Cao R, Todorov A, Brandmeir N, Wang S. Task modulation of single-neuron activity in the human [[amygdala]] and [[hippocampus]]. eNeuro. 2021 Dec 20:ENEURO.0398-21.2021. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0398-21.2021. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34933946.)).

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[[Amygdala Dysfunction]] or abnormalities in the amygdala can lead to emotional and [[mood disorder]]s, such as [[anxiety disorder]]s, [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD). Understanding the amygdala's functions and its interactions with other brain regions is critical in research and clinical applications related to emotional processing, stress management, and psychiatric disorders.