Functions of the amygdala

Anatomically the amygdala is part of the limbic system. It receives input from all sensory modalities and from interpretive cortex and it sends impulses to basic subcortical structures such as the hypothalamus and reticular formation. The evidence shows that the amygdala is very important in the regulation of drives, especially fear, but is not itself essential for their elaboration. It appears that the amygdala is primaryily involved in the suppression of motivated approach behavior and in the association of fear and avoidance behavior with previously neutral stimuli. (7 ref.)