Functional activities of the amygdala: an overview.
Year: 2000
Type: article
Abstract: Research to date into the amygdala shows that it has an integrative role in behavioural, vegetative and endocrine activities of animals in their relation with their environment. Animal studies show that amygdala has a role in emotional response, integrating input signals and initiating activities related to them. Different nuclei seem to have different effects. A complete picture of the functional roles of the amygdala is unavailable, and it has been suggested that the amygdala is functionally and anatomically heterogeneous. Amygdaloid subnuclei appear to have a role in the modulation of fear, in memory and attention, and in some sexual and sex-related behaviour of rats. In humans, functional magnetic resonance imaging shows that the amygdala responds preferentially to emotionally charged stimuli. Bilateral amygdala damage in humans can compromise the recognition of fear in facial expressions, an important ability in social judgement. Future study of the amygdala promises to shed light on emotional disorders in humans.
Source: PubMed Central
Authors: A A Rasia-Filho, R G Londero, M Achaval
Institution: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Language: English
Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W48071019