Alen J SALERIAN MD
Your amygdala may be the second
most important brain region after prefrontal cortex for your mood and
happiness.
The larger your amygdala the
greater the chances of your vulnerability to depression. And why? This pair OF
almond shape centers mediate fear response. In essence they function as our
radar to warn us of impending external
threats. Hence it makes sense that somebody with a sensitive amygdala would
pick up more potential hostile threats wearing down her or his prefrontal
cortex to a dysfunctional state. Then comes depression.
Paradoxically people of abnormal and smaller
amygdalas seem to be significantly more vulnerable to fibromyalgia and chronic
pain. All of these findings are supported by neuroimaging studies.
In essence what a good
psychiatrist to do is to pay as much attention to your amygdala as to your
environmental stressors if you're depressed.
References.
Weniger G Lange C Irle E Abnormal size of the
amygdala predicts impairment emotional memory in major depressive disorder.
Journal of affective disorders 2006 volume 94 issue 1 pages 219 – 229
Salerian MD sensitive dependence of mental
function on prefrontal cortex. Journal of psychology and clinical psychiatry.
2015, 2 (1): 00053
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