amygdala

noun

amyg·​da·​la ə-ˈmig-də-lə How to pronounce amygdala (audio)
plural amygdalae ə-ˈmig-də-ˌlē How to pronounce amygdala (audio)
-ˌlī
: the one of the four basal ganglia in each cerebral hemisphere that is part of the limbic system and consists of an almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the anterior extremity of the temporal lobe

called also amygdaloid nucleus

Examples of amygdala in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In this case, the culprits in this slander were all in their 20s, meaning their amygdala should have developed slightly more by then. Elana Rabinowitz, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024 Now the moods swing, the hormones rush, a construction crew turns the amygdala into a god-awful mess and overnight, and Riley’s emotional HQ becomes twice as crowded. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2024 For example, during adolescence the amygdala’s volume increases (a structural change), and so does the way the amygdala is activated by certain emotional experiences (a functional change). Bj Casey, Scientific American, 14 May 2024 Among typical white subjects in the scanner, the sight of a black man’s face activates the amygdala, a brain region central to emotions of fear and aggression, in under one-tenth of a second. Robert Sapolsky, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2019 See all Example Sentences for amygdala 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amygdala.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, almond, from Greek amygdalē

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of amygdala was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near amygdala

Cite this Entry

“Amygdala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amygdala. Accessed 14 Jul. 2024.

Medical Definition

amygdala

noun
amyg·​da·​la ə-ˈmig-də-lə How to pronounce amygdala (audio)
plural amygdalae -ˌlē How to pronounce amygdala (audio) -ˌlī How to pronounce amygdala (audio)
: the one of the four basal ganglia in each cerebral hemisphere that is part of the limbic system and consists of an almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the roof of the lateral ventricle

called also amygdaloid body, amygdaloid nucleus

More from Merriam-Webster on amygdala

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