The Amygdala

A key part of the limbic system, the amygdala plays a major role in emotion, memory and social behavior. When it malfunctions, it is believed to be involved in conditions such as autism, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Exactly how it shapes these core functions and how it connects with other brain regions has been hard to pin down.

This volume is edited by John P. Aggleton, who previously wrote the first book on the subject, The Neurobiological Aspects of Emotion, Memory, and Mental Dysfunction (1992). Since then, the field has advanced considerably, and research output has grown sharply. Scientists can now describe the structure's contribution with much greater precision.

Contributors from around the world, all leading researchers, explain current thinking on this enigmatic region in a broad and distinctive review. It is aimed at anyone interested in the neural basis of emotion and memory.