Affiliation:
1. University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
2. Pequeno Príncipe Colleges, Curitiba, Brazil
3. Advanced Center for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Abstract
The amygdala consists of a collection of nuclei that are deep within the medial temporal lobe. Despite its small size, the amygdala is one of the most densely connected structures in the brain, and it plays a role in many superior neural functions, including neurovegetative control, motor control, memory processing, and neuromodulation. Advances in neuroimaging technology for examining brain activity have opened up new ways of understanding the functional contribution of this structure to emotions, learning, and related memories. Many studies have shown that the amygdala plays a key role in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety disorders, depression, aggression, and temporal epilepsy. This article reviews the anatomical structure of the amygdaloid complex and the connectivity among its subdivisions and with other brain structures, which will serve as a basis for understanding the clinical correlations.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Cognitive Neuroscience,General Medicine,Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology