amygdala
noun
amyg·da·la
ə-ˈmig-də-lə 
plural amygdalae
ə-ˈmig-də-ˌlē
-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
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In moments of conflict, the amygdala — the brain’s alarm system — goes on high alert.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
The olfactory cortex is closely connected to the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes emotions, and to the hippocampus, a key region for memory.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 July 2025
At a minimum, says Rincon-Torroella, a memory-altering chip would have to target the hippocampi, for their memory-forming function, and the amygdala, which governs emotions.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
The key to a mindset that welcomes feedback is to extract a positive element from the negative feedback, allowing the brain’s activity to shift from the amygdala to the frontal lobes.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
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Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
The olfactory cortex is closely connected to the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes emotions, and to the hippocampus, a key region for memory.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 July 2025
At a minimum, says Rincon-Torroella, a memory-altering chip would have to target the hippocampi, for their memory-forming function, and the amygdala, which governs emotions.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
The key to a mindset that welcomes feedback is to extract a positive element from the negative feedback, allowing the brain’s activity to shift from the amygdala to the frontal lobes.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for amygdala
Cite this Entry
“Amygdala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amygdala. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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amygdala
noun
amyg·da·la
ə-ˈmig-də-lə
: 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
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