What does "amygdala" mean?
Each one of the two regions of the brain, located as a pair in the medial temporal lobe, believed to play a key role in processing emotions, such as fear and pleasure, in both animals and humans.
Amygdala
noun
noun ·4 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Each one of the two regions of the brain, located as a pair in the medial temporal lobe, believed to play a key role in processing emotions, such as fear and pleasure, in both animals and humans.
- Grammar: amygdala is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: amygdaloid, amygdaloid nucleus, corpus amygdaloideum.
- Usage evidence: Binge drinking can damage the amygdala.
How to use "amygdala"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
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Before you rely on this definition
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Definition decision workflow
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 Each one of the two regions of the brain, located as a pair in the medial temporal lobe, believed to play a key role in processing emotions, such as fear and pleasure, in both animals and humans.
"There is experimental evidence showing that cortisol restrains the intensity and duration of the emergency reaction to stress, and catecholamines have been shown to enhance emotional memory in the amygdala (see subsection on "Noradrenaline"). Thus, individuals lacking cortisol would overstore traumatic memories ."
- 2 an almond-shaped neural structure in the anterior part of the temporal lobe of the cerebrum; intimately connected with the hypothalamus and the hippocampus and the cingulate gyrus; as part of the limbic system it plays an important role in motivation and emotional behavior wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Binge drinking can damage the amygdala."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "amygdala"?
Common synonyms include: amygdaloid, amygdaloid nucleus, corpus amygdaloideum.
How do you use "amygdala" in a sentence?
Binge drinking can damage the amygdala.
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek ἀμυγδάλη (amugdálē)bor. ▲ Arabic لَوْز (lawz)sl. Medieval Latin amygdalalbor. English amygdala Learned borrowing from Latin amygdala (“almond, amygdala”), from Ancient Greek ἀμυγδάλη (amugdálē, “almond”), named as such due to its shape. Doublet of almond, amygdale, and mandorla.