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
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Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines bidirectionally modulate amygdala circuits regulating anxiety Cell. Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025 Neuroimaging studies reveal that labeling emotions through writing activates the prefrontal cortex while dampening amygdala activity, effectively reducing emotional reactivity. Drew Ramsey, Contributor, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025 Regularly noticing them could strengthen the brain’s ability to regulate emotions, calming the amygdala and reinforcing feelings of ease. Mark Travers, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 Do people with a larger amygdala gravitate toward more conservative ideologies because their amygdala is already structured in a way that is more receptive to the negative emotions that conservatism elicits? Matt Richtel, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for amygdala

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

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Cite this Entry

“Amygdala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amygdala. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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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