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Amygdala Reactivity

Meaning

Amygdala reactivity is the measure of the intensity and speed with which the amygdala, a bilateral, almond-shaped structure deep within the temporal lobe, responds to emotionally salient stimuli, particularly those perceived as threatening or fear-inducing. This physiological metric reflects the sensitivity of the brain’s primary emotional processing center. Clinically, altered reactivity is often implicated in mood disorders, anxiety states, and post-traumatic stress, reflecting a dysregulated emotional alarm system. It is a core component of the neural circuitry governing defensive behaviors and fear conditioning.