Like most people, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the “fight-or-flight” response, but you may not know much about the amydgala, the part of the human brain that is responsible for these responses and others in the repertoire of human emotions.
Online magazine 1X57 recently published an excellent and easy-to-understand overview of the amygdala. Here is a brief excerpt:
For dangerous situations [the amygdala’s storage of memories that elicit fear] can save our life but in today’s modern world it often acts in a role of paralysis, where the central nuclei is the genesis of many fear responses, including freezing (immobility), tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), increased respiration, and stress-hormone release.
Of particular interest to readers of this blog may be the section that talks about amygdala “hijacking,” or what happens when we have a strong emotional response formed without conscious recognition, which can lead to a “post-episode realization that the reaction was inappropriate.”
Read the full article here.
(Note: Image via http://1×57.com post)
Am I understanding research supports that there is therapy through repetition of certain activities that promotes growth of new neuro pathways and the amygdala? What is this therapy?