The amygdala is a small almond shaped structure, deep inside the anteroinferior region of the temporal lobe. The amygdala is an extremely heterogeneous brain area consisting of 13 nuclei and cortical regions and their subdivisions (Pitkänen 2000; Sah et al 2003). It connects with prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, the septal nuclei, and the medial dorsal nucleus of the thalamus. These connections make it possible for the amygdala to play its important role on the mediation and control of major affective states such as love, fear, rage, anxiety, and general negative affectivity (Aggleton 2000; Pitkänen et al 2000; Amaral et al 2003). The amygdala, being a center for the identification of danger, is fundamental for self-preservation.
