Читать книгу The Handy Psychology Answer Book - Lisa J. Cohen - Страница 284

The amygdala seems to be an early responder to emotionally significant signals from the environment. It is particularly reactive to fearful stimuli. The amygdala activates the hypothalamus, which in turn activates the autonomic nervous system, in part through control of important hormones. The autonomic nervous system regulates the physiological components of emotion. For example, imagine that a vicious dog has broken free of its leash and is now lunging toward you. Immediately, your amygdala responds to the perception of danger. It sends signals to the hypothalamus, which then activates the autonomic nervous system, resulting in the rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, and heavy breathing associated with fear.

Where does the word amygdala come from?

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure buried deep in the middle of the brain. Because of its oval shape, the amygdala was named after the Greek word for almond.