The Functional Implication of the Amygdala in Relation to Fear

Abstract

Fear is a basic, universal, and primary sensation; its function is to protect against risk situations; without fear, people would act recklessly and endanger their lives. Fear acts as a regulator of our behavior, warning us of dangers and avoiding them when detecting a threat, this is interpreted as such when damage to physical integrity is involved as well as damage against reputation self-esteem, self-concept, or security, depending on the idea and beliefs about it. The amygdala is the structure responsible for this sensation. Hereunder, this text will show a review about the location, structure, functioning and importance of the amygdala, as well as the relationship between this structure and fear through studies carried out in animals and humans.