The amygdala - fear and stress response
Professor Bruce McEwen discusses how the amygdala is involved in processing fear and stress.
Starting with the amygdala, it is the brain area that’s involved in fear, fear learning, also to some extent in aggression. It’s also a brain structure that is involved in turning on the stress response, turning on the adrenaline, turning on the ACTH [adrenocorticotropic hormone] that causes cortisol secretion. It’s also an area that’s involved when you’re stressed and see something dangerous, like a snake walking in the woods. You freeze and then you later move back. It’s involved in all of these primary actions that are related to stress and self-defense.
amygdala, aggression, self defense, adrenaline, secretion, acth, stress, response, bruce, mcewen
- ID: 2217
- Source: DNALC.G2C
- Download: MPEG 4 Video Theora Video
Related Content
2206. Endocrine system - functions
Professor Bruce McEwen describes some of the key players in the endocrine system - hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal cortex, sex glands, and hormones.
2208. Stress reduction and the brain
Professor Bruce McEwen describes steps that can reduce stress, including sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet. The brain is the central organ of stress and differentiates positive, tolerable, and toxic stress.
2205. Endocrine system and neuroendocrinology
Professor Bruce McEwen describes the endocrine system, which regulates hormones, the autonomic nervous and immune systems.
2074. The amygdala and depression
Professor Wayne Drevets outlines the amygdala's importance to the neurobiology of depression. He concludes that stimulation of the amygdala can elicit depression-like emotional experiences.
2211. Resilience, stress, and plasticity
Professor Bruce McEwen describes the interplay between reilience and stress, which can cause the brain to shrink or grow.
2210. Sex differences and stress resistance
Professor Bruce McEwen discusses differences between the sexes in coping with stress. These are mediated by hormonal, neural, and genetic factors.
2218. Parasympathetic systems, risk, and the brain
Professor Bruce McEwen describes how the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex mediate the parasympathetic system, which is associated with risk-taking.
2209. Toxic versus tolerable stress - support
Professor Bruce McEwen outlines the environmental, genetic, and experiential factors that can cause tolerable stress to become toxic.
2225. Depression
An overview of depression-related content on Genes to Cognition Online.
2214. Early-life experience - stimulation
Professor Bruce McEwen notes that stimulation during early life can lead to a better cognitive outcome.