amygdala
noun
amyg·da·la
ə-ˈmig-də-lə 
plural amygdalae
ə-ˈmig-də-ˌlē
-ˌlī
: the one of the four basal ganglia in each cerebral hemisphere that is part of the limbic system and consists of an almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the anterior extremity of the temporal lobe
called also amygdaloid nucleus
Examples of amygdala in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The root cause is a hyperactive amygdala, a brain region that plays an essential role in emotional processing, and its connection to a frontal lobe region that controls our feelings, thoughts, and actions.
—
Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Preliminary research shows that these exercises may stimulate the amygdala and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex – regions of the brain that are thought to be involved in depression – and have antidepressant effects.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
For the 20 to 40 percent of people who are noise sensitive, sounds above a certain decibel trigger the amygdala, the reptilian part of the brain designed to protect us, to fire on all cylinders.
—Amy Paturel, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2024
And studies have shown that a part of your brain that's called the amygdala changes its activity pattern.
—Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
But that’s likely not going to work, since your amygdala is perceiving threat and thus attacking instead of simply dealing with the issue at hand.
—Christine Comaford, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Unfortunately, post-traumatic stress disorder often reworks the brain by limiting the ventromedial prefrontal cortex’s ability to control regions like the amygdala.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024
Add in the uncertainty and fear of possible rejection that comes with new-crush territory, and your amygdala, the region critical for emotional processing, becomes more active.
—Carina Hsieh, SELF, 30 Jan. 2024
His hand was still in the air, not on account of any conscious intention but merely because his amygdala had taken over.
—Oliver Munday, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2023
Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Preliminary research shows that these exercises may stimulate the amygdala and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex – regions of the brain that are thought to be involved in depression – and have antidepressant effects.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
For the 20 to 40 percent of people who are noise sensitive, sounds above a certain decibel trigger the amygdala, the reptilian part of the brain designed to protect us, to fire on all cylinders.
—Amy Paturel, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2024
And studies have shown that a part of your brain that's called the amygdala changes its activity pattern.
—Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
But that’s likely not going to work, since your amygdala is perceiving threat and thus attacking instead of simply dealing with the issue at hand.
—Christine Comaford, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Unfortunately, post-traumatic stress disorder often reworks the brain by limiting the ventromedial prefrontal cortex’s ability to control regions like the amygdala.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024
Add in the uncertainty and fear of possible rejection that comes with new-crush territory, and your amygdala, the region critical for emotional processing, becomes more active.
—Carina Hsieh, SELF, 30 Jan. 2024
His hand was still in the air, not on account of any conscious intention but merely because his amygdala had taken over.
—Oliver Munday, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2023
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Cite this Entry
“Amygdala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amygdala. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
amygdala
noun
amyg·da·la
ə-ˈmig-də-lə
: the one of the four basal ganglia in each cerebral hemisphere that is part of the limbic system and consists of an almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the roof of the lateral ventricle
called also amygdaloid body, amygdaloid nucleus
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