Is Your Amygdala Forward?

When the amygdala’s connections to the R-complex (or “reptile brain”, Dr. Paul McLean) are activated, fight or flight and basic reactionary survival processes occur in brain/body. The slang for this is “clicking backward”. It is primary and basic, and automatic.

When cortex and frontal lobes processes overcome the limitations of the reactive reptile brain, the slang is “clicking the amygdala forward”. The brain rewards certain enhanced survival behaviors with pleasure, and this patterning of learned positive behavior involves the amygdala and its connections to the forward pre-frontal cortex. This can be done consciously and deliberately.

“Clicking” the amygdala, is a phrase coined by brain and behavior researcher T.D.A. Lingo that refers to either automatic (reactive non-deliberate) or conscious deliberate activation of amygdaloid body processes (by cortex influence).

The left side of your brain also has one (other side, hidden here). Please note, the wrinkly cortex “gray matter” and glial cells “white matter” of the brain is not shown. These other structures are other parts of the brain’s “limbic system” (the “mammal brain”).

Amygdala Locator: The drawing shows where the right amygdala is (follow the arrow).