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Questions & Answers: What is the amygdala?
Q. What is the amygdala, and what are its functions?
A. The amygdala is the linchpin of human emotion. A deep structure of the brain, it is located in front of the hippocampus on the underside of the temporal lobes. Its shape is reflected in its name, which is derived from the Greek amugdale, or almond. The vital responsibility of the amygdala is to receive information from the environment, evaluate its emotional significance, and organize a fitting response.
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