what does the amygdala do

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure located in the temporal lobes of the brain. It is part of a larger network in the brain called the limbic system, which is responsible for controlling emotions, behavior, and memory. The amygdala is one of the first parts of the brain to react to danger, making it a key part of surviving and keeping oneself safe from harm. It is responsible for emotional processing, especially fear and anxiety, and connects emotions to memory. The amygdala also plays a role in positive emotions, learning, and social cognition. Researchers believe that the more overgrowth the amygdala experiences, the more severe the persons ASD symptoms might be. The amygdala processes not only emotions of fear and aversive stimuli, but it is also involved in conditioning using stimuli of appetite such as food. Electrical stimulation of the amygdala evokes fear and anxiety responses in humans while lesions block certain types of unconditioned fear.