The Amygdala
By: Alinka, Harel, Vjosa
General Information; Location
General Location 1-inch-long structure Group nuclei situated
beneath the cortex Beneath the surface of
the temporal lobe on the tip of the long
hippocampus cord Few inches from the ear
Parts of Amygdala
Basolateral Amygdala
Central Amygdala
Ventral Amygdala
Dorsal Amygdala
General Information; Function• Feelings of lust,
curiosity, fear• Part in storage of
emotional memories▫ Processes & assigns
emotional "value" to received sensory input
▫ Through connection with the hypothalamus, it appears to have some mediating effect on the "fight-or-flight”
▫ Response that occurs when an individual is confronted with a dangerous situation
Study #1• Aim: Determine the volume in the
amygdala in a series of brains post-mortems
• Procedure: ▫Amygdala volume was estimated
using point-counting in both hemispheres of brains of 10 male and 8 female patients with schizophrenia
▫Had a comparison group of 9 male and 9 female post-mortems without neuropsychiatric disorder
• Results: No significant reduction of amygdala found
Study #2
• Aim: Examine neural activity in amygdala during episodes of mania.
• Procedure: ▫ 9 manic participants & 9 healthy comparison
subjects underwent fMRI while performing a neuropsychological paradigm
▫ Experimental Task: participants look at faces displaying affection
▫ Control task: geometric forms▫ Goal: Match them to one of two similar images
presented at same time
• Results: Manic participants had significantly increased activation in the left amygdala and reduced bilateral activation in the lateral orbit frontal cortex relative to the comparison participants.
Study #3
• Aim: Investigate what happens in the amygdala during and after phobia treatment
• Procedure: ▫ Examined brain activity of 18 people with social
phobia as they spoke in front of a group using PET scans
▫ 1/3 of the participants received 9 weeks of cognitive-behavioral therapy
▫ 1/3 received Citalopram and 1/3 received no treatment.
▫ Participants were tested again, using the same public speaking task, at 9 weeks and again after one year.
• Results: Activation in the amygdala and related cortical areas at 9 weeks could predict which people's symptoms would improve after one year
Dysfunction •Anxiety•Autism •Depression•Post-traumatic stress disorder•Phobias•Temporal lobe epilepsy the brain •Inability to recognize facial expressions•Memory•Mood•Other psychiatric disorders
Causes of Disfunction
•Damage by injury•Developmental problems•Neurotransmitter imbalance•Binge drinking
Bibliography of Studies: • Study #1:
▫ Chance, S. A., Esiri, M. M., & Crow, T. J. (2002). Amygdala Volume in Schizophrenia: Post-mortem Study and Review of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings . Abstract retrieved from bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/reprint/180/4/ 331.pdf
• Study #2:▫ Altschuler, L., M.D., Mazziotta, J., M.D., Ph.D., Firestine, A., B.A.,
Bartzokis, G., M.D., Mintz, J., Ph.D., & Bookheimer, S., Ph.D. (2005, June). Increased Amygdala Activation During Mania: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Abstract retrieved from UCLA, American Psychiatric Association, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System website: http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/162/6/1211
• Study #3: ▫ Furmark, T., Ph.D., & Fredrikson, M., PhD. (2005, July). Figuring out Phobias .
Abstract retrieved from American Psychological Association website: http://www.anxietyandstress.com/specificphobias.html
Sources• ("Brain." Reviewed by Robert L. Knobler. Encyclopedia Americana. 2010. Grolier
Online. 31 Mar. 2010 <http://ea.grolier.com/article?id=0058500-00>.• http://www.anxietyandstress.com/specificphobias.html• http://biopsychiatry.com/amygdala.htm• http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/med532/amygdala.htm• http://www.benbest.com/science/anatmind/anatmd9.html• http://annarivermount.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/citalopram.jpg• http://www.capersonalinjurycaselawnotes.com/uploads/image/PET%20scan.jpg• http://images.learningresources.com/images/products/en_us/detail/prod0912_dt.jpg• http://www.fz-juelich.de/inm/datapool/Antomicalimaging/04.jpg• http://www.liminalmusic.org/files/amygdala1.gif• http://www.efeld.com/fmscience/images/amygdala%20circuits.gif
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