The Highjacking of Amygdala.

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The High jacking  of Amygdala

P.K.Ghatak, MD

No.29

 Amygdala is located in the Temporal Cortex and is a part of memory formation and temporary retention of memory, specially those that evoke a strong emotion. Amygdala is a Greek word that means an olive. The size of the human amygdala is about the size of an olive.



In 1995, Daniel Goleman, a psychologist, described the circumstances when the normal functions of the amygdala are taken over by the fight or flight reaction. This usually results in impulsive, irrational behavior and confusion.

What is the nature of memory?

The long term memories are protein molecules. Two protein molecules KIBRA and PKMzeta are important for memory storage and maintenance.  The Short term memory is a combination of electrical impulses and protein molecules.

How Amygdala is hijacked.

A specific area of the brain performs a very specific task and, for the normal functioning of an area, requires inputs and outputs from several brain centers endowed with related functions. For memory formation, temporary retention of memory and long term memory storage, the amygdala is connected with nerve fibers with the hippocampus, superior temporal gyrus, and prefrontal cortex. The rational behavior formation and retention occur in the prefrontal cortex. The short term memories are stored in the hippocampus.

 And the normal functions of the amygdala are as follows:

The amygdala is like an alarm center that functions to trigger emotional experiences and works with the hippocampus to store those memories. During sleep, the experiences of the day go through re-runs, editing, pruning, and storage. Also, it creates links to visual, auditory, and general sense centers, like the hard disc of a PC, so when one hears the siren of a rushing ambulance, an accident that the person was involved in or witnessed before would automatically appear in one's memory as vivid as ever.

In clinical practice, Amygdala hijacking is associated with Panic attacks, PTSD, Phobias, and Personality disorders.

When the Amygdala perceives a threat, it takes over the function of the prefrontal cortex. The emotional responses are out of proportion to the actual event. The symptoms are anger, fear, road rage, shouting obscenities, posturing, and physical harm to a person or property. All are happening on the spur of the moment and are generally proven to be poor decisions later. The other set of reactions is extreme nervousness, profuse sweating, unable to stand steady, needs a run to the toilet, and falls to the ground.

Experts in this field usually help those seeking advice through psychotherapy, meditation, relaxation techniques and group therapy, and several other modalities.

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