amygdala

IPA/əˈmɪɡdələ/
KK[ˌæmɪɡdˈɑlə]IPA/əˈmɪɡdələ/

amygdala — noun

  • amygdalasingular
  • amygdalasplural

1. either of two small, almond-shaped clusters of nerve cells deep inside the brain

1.nounC1
Definition

either of two small, almond-shaped clusters of nerve cells deep inside the brain that play a key role in how we experience emotions such as fear, anger, and pleasure, and in forming emotional memories

Example

When Yuki heard footsteps behind her in the dark alley, her amygdala instantly triggered a fear response.

collocation: amygdala + fear response

Brain scans taken during Camille's therapy sessions showed that her amygdala lit up every time she recalled the bicycle accident.

brain scan evidence: amygdala activity during emotional recall

Common collocations
  • amygdala triggers
  • amygdala response
  • amygdala activity
  • amygdala damage

Usage Note

The amygdala is often discussed in relation to fear and anxiety, but it also processes positive emotions such as pleasure and reward. In scientific writing, the plural form amygdalae (ă-mĭg-də-lē) refers to both structures in the left and right hemispheres.

Word family

  • amygdaloid
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Unlike the hippocampus, which focuses on forming and organizing memories of facts and events, the amygdala is specialised for the emotional weight attached to those memories. The hypothalamus manages basic bodily drives such as hunger, thirst, and body temperature, whereas the amygdala handles emotional reactions like fear and anger. The prefrontal cortex, on the other hand, is involved in higher-level reasoning and impulse control, often working to dampen the amygdala's rapid emotional responses. For example, when you see something frightening, the amygdala reacts in a split second, while the prefrontal cortex helps you decide whether the threat is real.

hippocampus ↗hypothalamusprefrontal cortex

Common collocations

Nouns

  • amygdala activity
  • amygdala response
  • amygdala function
  • amygdala damage
  • amygdala size

Phrases

  • fight or flight response

Prepositions

  • in the amygdala
  • of the amygdala
  • within the amygdala

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word comes from Greek ἀμυγδαλή (amygdalē, 'almond') plus the Latin suffix -a, because the structure is roughly the size and shape of an almond kernel. The name was first used in medical Latin in the 19th century when anatomists identified the almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the temporal lobe.

First known use

1845

1845, in the meaning defined above