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Review
. 2006;8(4):407-16.
doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2006.8.4/jschulkin.

Angst and the amygdala

Jay Schulkin  1
Affiliations
Review

Angst and the amygdala

Jay Schulkin. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2006.

Abstract
in English, Spanish, French

Fear is an adaptation to danger, but excessive fear underlies diverse forms of mental anguish and pathology. One neural site linked to a sense of adversity is the amygdala, and one neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), is localized within the central nucleus of the amygdala. Glucocorticoids enhance the production of CRH in this region of the brain, resulting in increased attention to external events and, when sustained for longer periods of time, perhaps contributing to anxious depression.

El miedo es una adaptación al peligro pero el miedo excesivo es la expresión de diversas formas de angustia y enfermedad mentales. Una localización neural relacionada con el sentido de la adversidad es la amígdala; el neuropéptido hormona liberadora de corticotropina (CRH), se localiza en el núcleo central del cuerpo amigdalino. Los glucocorticoides refuerzan la producción de CRH en esta región cerebral, con lo que aumenta la atención a los acontecimientos externos y, si se sostiene durante largos períodos, puede contribuir a la depresión ansiosa.

La peur est une adaptation au danger, mais une peur excessive est à l'origine de diverses formes d'angoisse et de pathologies. L'amygdale est un site cérébral traitant le concept d l'adversité. La CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone) est un neuropeptide situé dans le noyau central de l'amygdale. Les glucocorticoïdes augmentent la sécrétion de CRH dans cette région du cerveau, conduisant ainsi à une attention accrue aux événements extérieurs. En se pérennisant sur de plus longues périodes, cette sécrétion pourrait contribuer au trouble anxio-dépressif.

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