Meaning & use
amygdala
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Meaning
nouncountablemedicalbiology
An almond-shaped group of nerve cells deep in the brain that helps process emotions, especially fear and threat.
Grammar: Each brain has two, so the plural is common in science: the amygdalae or amygdalas.
Patterns
- the amygdala in the brain
The amygdala reacts quickly when we see something frightening.
Scans showed unusual activity in her amygdala.
Damage to the amygdala can change how people respond to danger.
Word forms
| plural | amygdalae |
|---|---|
| alternative plural | amygdalas |
Common combinations
- activate the amygdala
- Loud noises can activate the amygdala.
- amygdala response
- The amygdala response to threats is automatic.
- damage to the amygdala
- Damage to the amygdala affected his sense of fear.
- amygdala hijack
- He described his outburst as an amygdala hijack.
Synonyms and how they differ
- limbic system
- The limbic system is a larger network of brain regions that includes the amygdala, so it is broader.
Word family
- amygdalae noun
- the Latin-style plural
- amygdalar adjective
- relating to the amygdala
- amygdaloid adjective
- shaped like an almond
Commonly confused: amygdala or hippocampus?
amygdala vs hippocampus
The amygdala handles emotion such as fear, while the nearby hippocampus is mainly involved in forming memories.
Practice
Which brain structure is most closely linked to processing fear?
Choose one answer.
The amygdala is central to detecting threat and fear. The hippocampus is more about memory, and the cerebellum mainly handles movement.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “amygdala”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.