amygdala - BrainInfo

amygdala (AMG)

The term amygdala (AMG) refers to a histologically defined structure at the rostral extreme of the ventral limb of the limbic lobe (LLBv), which has a cortical component on the medial aspect of the anterior parahippocampal gyrus (PHGa) of the humans and macaques ( Amaral-1992 ). In the rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and mouse ( Hof-2000 ), it is located ventromedially in the cerebral hemisphere about midway between the frontal pole (frp) and occipital pole (ocp). It has two parts: periamygdalar cortex (PAC) and amygdalar nuclei (AMN). The PAC is more cortex-like in that the neurons are organized in layers. Receiving direct input from the olfactory bulb (OLB), the PAC is the most central component of the olfactory system (OLS) ( Buck-2013 ). As the executive component of the instinctive behavioral control system, it transmits olfactory signals via stria terminalis (st) to motor component, the hypothalamus (HYP). It also transmits signals to HYP by an indirect pathway through the nuclei of stria terminalis (NST) and ( Olmos-1990 ). In the AMN neurons and myelinated axons are more homogeneously distributed. They receive input from the olfactory system through PAC and directly from all of the other sensory systems ( Wright-1997 ). Two major functions of the amygdala are to mediate fast stereotypic instinctive responses to natural stimuli and to mediate the performance of learned responses to stimuli signalling opportunity to seek reward or to avoid harm ( Bowden-2021 ). Some evidence indicates that the AMG can mediate instinctive responses to quite complex visual and auditory stimuli subconsciously, i.e., without conscious awareness of the stimulus. . Studies of blindsight in humans and macaques indicate an ability to categorize visual stimuli with considerable precision and to formulate appropriate responses to positive and negative, natural, emotional and symbolic stimuli without conscious awareness of having sensed them ( Weiskrantz, 2004). Updated 15 Jan 2025.

Also known as: amygdala, Amygdala, Corpus amygdaloideum, amygdaloid nuclear complex, Corpus amygdalae, amygdaloid body, archistriatum, amygdaloid nuclear groups, amygdaloid nucleus, nucleus amygdalae, classical amygdala, amygdaloid complex

NeuroNames ID: 237

All Names & Sources

1 of 36

Showing 36 synonym(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 36 synonym(s)

Name:

Mandelkern

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schiebler-1999

Citation:

Eighth Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1999.

Source Title:

Anatomie

Name:

Amg

Language:

acronym

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-1997

Citation:

San Diego: Academic Press, 1997

Source Title:

Atlas of the Human Brain

Name:

arquiestrado

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

arkistriat

Language:

Indonesian

Organism:

human

Source:

Noback-1982

Citation:

Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kedokteran EGC, 1982

Source Title:

Anatomi Susunan Saraf Manusia, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Neurobiologi

Name:

complesso nucleare dell'amigdala

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

Mandel

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schultze-1993

Citation:

Georg Theme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1993

Source Title:

Anatomisches Wörterbuch

Name:

миндалина

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Savel'ev-1996

Citation:

AREA XVII, Moscow, 1996.

Source Title:

Stereoskopicheskii Atlas Mozga Cheloveka

Name:

amígdala

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

amygdala

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Roberts-1970

Citation:

Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1970

Source Title:

Atlas Of The Human Brain In Section

Name:

Amygdala

Language:

English

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Szabo-1984

Citation:

J Comp Neurol 1984 Jan 10;222(2):265-300

Source Title:

A stereotaxic atlas of the brain of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Name:

Corpus amygdaloideum

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Nomina-1983

Citation:

Fifth Edition, Williams and Wilkins Co., Baltimore, 1983

Source Title:

Nomina Anatomica

Name:

Corpus amygdaloideum

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca nemestrina

Source:

Winters-1969

Citation:

University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, Ca., 1969.

Source Title:

A Stereotaxic Brain Atlas For Macaca nemestrina

Name:

Amygdala

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-1997

Citation:

San Diego: Academic Press, 1997

Source Title:

Atlas of the Human Brain

Name:

amygdaloid nuclear complex

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

amygdaloid nuclear complex

Language:

English

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Martin-1997

Citation:

Primate Information Center, University of Washington, Seattle, 1997.

Source Title:

Template Atlas of the Primate Brain

Name:

Corpus amygdalae

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Shantha-1968

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1968

Source Title:

A Stereotaxic Atlas Of The Java Monkey Brain (Macaca irus)

Name:

amygdaloid body

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Ranson-1959

Citation:

W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1959

Source Title:

The Anatomy Of The Nervous System: Its Development And Function

Name:

archistriatum

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

amygdaloid nuclear groups

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

amygdaloid nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Crosby-1962

Citation:

New York: MacMillan, 1962

Source Title:

Correlative Anatomy of the Nervous System

Name:

Mandelkernkomplex

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schiebler-1999

Citation:

Eighth Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1999.

Source Title:

Anatomie

Name:

Mandelkörper

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schiebler-1999

Citation:

Eighth Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1999.

Source Title:

Anatomie

Name:

nucleus amygdalae

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Savel'ev-1996

Citation:

AREA XVII, Moscow, 1996.

Source Title:

Stereoskopicheskii Atlas Mozga Cheloveka

Name:

complesso amigdaloideo

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

complesso dell'amigdala

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

complejo nuclear amigdalino

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

nucleo dell'amigdala

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

amigdala

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1995

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

миндалевидное ядро

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Savel'ev-1996

Citation:

AREA XVII, Moscow, 1996.

Source Title:

Stereoskopicheskii Atlas Mozga Cheloveka

Name:

complejo amigdalino

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

amigdala

Language:

Indonesian

Organism:

human

Source:

Noback-1982

Citation:

Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kedokteran EGC, 1982

Source Title:

Anatomi Susunan Saraf Manusia, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Neurobiologi

Name:

nukleus amigdaloid

Language:

Indonesian

Organism:

human

Source:

Noback-1982

Citation:

Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kedokteran EGC, 1982

Source Title:

Anatomi Susunan Saraf Manusia, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Neurobiologi

Name:

миндалевидный комплекс

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Savel'ev-2005

Citation:

VEDI, Moscow, 2005.

Source Title:

Atlas Mozga Cheloveka (Atlas of the Human Brain)

Name:

classical amygdala

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Amunts-2012

Citation:

Chapter 36 in The Human Nervous System, Third Edition, JK Mai and G Paxinos (Eds.), pp. 186-232, Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Source Title:

Auditory System

Name:

amygdaloid complex

Language:

English

Organism:

primate

Source:

Amaral-1992

Citation:

Chapter 1, pp. 1-66 in The Amygdala: Neurobiological Aspects of Emotion, Memory, and Mental Dysfunction, Aggleton, J.P. (ed),Wiley-Liss, New York, 1992

Source Title:

Anatomical organization of the primate amygdaloid complex

Name:

AMG

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Unspecified

Source:

NeuroNames

Citation:

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Source Title:

NeuroNames

Illustrations

Showing 3 illustration(s)

dissection of
medial aspect in
human

labeled line drawings of
sagittal section in
Macaca fascicularis

multiple views of
3D reconstruction in
Macaca mulatta

Species With The Structure

Equivalent By	Human	Macaque	Rat	Mouse
Topology	Has The Structure	Relevant Data Not Located	Relevant Data Not Located	Relevant Data Not Located
Internal Structure	Has The Structure	Has The Structure	Relevant Data Not Located	Relevant Data Not Located

1 of 11

Showing 11 record(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 11 record(s)

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

amygdala

Source:

Roberts-1970

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

amygdaloid body

Source:

Ranson-1959

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

amygdaloid nuclear complex

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

amygdaloid nuclear groups

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

amygdaloid nucleus

Source:

Crosby-1962

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

archistriatum

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

Corpus amygdaloideum

Source:

Nomina-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

nucleus amygdalae

Source:

Savel'ev-1996

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

Amygdala

Source:

Mai-1997

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

Their Name:

amygdaloid nuclear complex

Source:

Martin-1997

Basis:

Internal Structure

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis)

Their Name:

Corpus amygdalae

Source:

Shantha-1968

Models Where It Appears

Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.