To summarize this reciprocal relationship: the amygdala appears to harness cortical activity according to the emotional meaning of stimuli, and the cortex initiates and modulates amygdala responses based on perceptions of expected outcomes of possible actions (Barbas, 2007; Bechara, 2005; Cardinal et al., 2002; Lewis & Todd, 2007). The result is attention to important stimuli together with a capacity to respond in ways consistent with one's long-term goals.
