Week 4.2: Amygdala Flashcards
Where is the amygdala located?
In the anterior medial temporal lobe, beneath the uncus, just in front of the hippocampus.
What is the main function of the amygdala?
Processing emotions, particularly fear, anxiety, and aggression.
What is the role of the amygdala in memory?
It connects emotions to memories, especially emotionally charged events.
What type of memory is associated with the amygdala?
Implicit (non-verbal) memory; fear conditioning.
How does the amygdala contribute to social interaction?
It helps interpret social cues, facial expressions, and emotional intent; impaired in autism.
What role does the amygdala play in parenting?
Regulates caregiving and nurturing emotional responses.
What cortical area regulates and moderates the amygdala?
Orbitofrontal cortex (based on context and past experience).
What are the three main nuclei groups of the amygdala?
Basolateral, corticomedial, and central nuclei.
What is the function of the basolateral group of the amygdala?
Receives sensory input (visual, auditory) for emotional processing.
What is the function of the corticomedial group?
Receives olfactory input; links smell and emotion.
What is the function of the central nucleus?
Projects to hypothalamus and brainstem to initiate autonomic responses.
What tract connects the amygdala to the hypothalamus and septal nuclei?
Stria terminalis.
What areas send sensory input to the amygdala?
Visual, auditory, somatosensory cortices.
What is the role of the amygdala in fear and threat detection?
It processes incoming stimuli and triggers autonomic ‘fight or flight’ responses.
What is a Duchenne smile?
A genuine, emotional smile driven by the limbic system.
What is a voluntary smile?
A conscious, social smile driven by the motor cortex.
What pathways control a voluntary (social) smile?
Pyramidal (corticobulbar) tract from motor cortex to facial nucleus.
What controls an emotional (Duchenne) smile?
Extrapyramidal pathways from limbic system and basal ganglia to the facial nucleus.
What is voluntary facial paresis?
Inability to produce a voluntary smile; emotional smiles are intact.
What causes voluntary facial paresis?
Lesions in motor cortex or corticobulbar tract.
What is emotional facial paresis?
Inability to smile emotionally; voluntary motor smiles remain intact.
What causes emotional facial paresis?
Lesions in the limbic system or extrapyramidal pathways.
