Corpus: Amygdala

The corpus amygdaloideum is a core area of the telencephalon. It is located in the medial part of the temporal lobe - rostral to the inferior horn of the lateral ventricles - and, like the cingulate gyrus and hippocampus, is part of the limbic system.

It is assumed that the corpus amygdaloideum connects new information with emotions. Damage to the corpus amygdaloideum leads to memory disorders.

The most important efferent of the amygdala is the stria terminalis. It runs in a C-shape around the thalamus to the hypothalamus and other core areas.

Animal studies indicate that two different parts of this brain area have different functions: The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is responsible for calculated action, while the central medial amygdala (CMA) controls more impulse-driven emotional behaviour.

Genetic calcification of the amygdala leads to the very rare Urbach-Wiethe syndrome. Abnormalities such as sociopathic behaviour are possible symptoms of this disorder.^[1][2][3] In addition, skin changes and mucosal changes such as dysphonia occur.