Amygdala

The amygdala is a complex structure adjacent to the hippocampus. The amygdala is involved in processing emotions, and fear–learning.

The amygdala is a complex structure adjacent to the hippocampus. The amygdala is involved in processing emotions, and fear–learning. It links areas of the cortex that process 'higher' cognitive information with hypothalamic and brainstem systems that control 'lower' metabolic responses (e.g. touch, pain sensitivity, and respiration). This allows the amygdala to coordinate physiological responses based on cognitive information – the most well–known example being the fight–or–flight response.