AMYGDALA
<p>Nov 27, 2009 4:05 PM  definitive article is by Joe LeDoux qv node.
 
from Greek for almond
 
In complex vertebrates, including humans, <b>the amygdalae perform primary roles in the formation and storage of memories associated with emotional events.</b> Research indicates that, during <a title="Fear conditioning" href="/wiki/Fear_conditioning">fear conditioning</a>, sensory stimuli reach the basolateral complexes of the amygdalae, particularly the lateral nuclei, where they form associations with memories of the stimuli. The association between stimuli and the aversive events they predict may be mediated by <a title="Long-term potentiation" href="/wiki/Long-term_potentiation">long-term potentiation</a>, a lingering potential for affected synapses to react more readily.<a href="#cite_note-rd-2"><sup id="cite_ref-rd_2-2" class="reference">[3]</sup></a>
 
The amygdalae also are involved in the <b>modulation of <a title="Memory consolidation" href="/wiki/Memory_consolidation">memory consolidation</a>. </b>Following any learning event, the <a title="Long-term memory" href="/wiki/Long-term_memory">long-term memory</a> for the event is not instantaneously formed. Rather, information regarding the event is slowly assimilated into long-term storage over time (the duration of long-term memory storage can be life-long), a process referred to as <i>memory consolidation</i>, until it reaches a relatively permanent state.
<b>During the consolidation period, the memory can be modulated.</b> In particular, it appears that<b> emotional arousal following the learning event influences the strength of the subsequent memory for that event. Greater emotional arousal following a learning event enhances a person's retention of that event.</b> Experiments have shown <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060202182107.htm">[1]</a> that administration of stress hormones to mice immediately after they learn something enhances their retention when they are tested two days later.
 
 
The amygdala processes reactions to personal space violations
 
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