The amygdala is responsible for the fight, flight, or freeze response from "summary" of The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel A. Van der Kolk
The amygdala, located deep in the brain's limbic system, is a small almond-shaped cluster of nuclei that plays a crucial role in processing emotions. When faced with a perceived threat, the amygdala triggers the body's automatic response system, known as the fight, flight, or freeze response. This ancient survival mechanism is designed to protect us from danger by preparing us to either confront, flee from, or remain immobile in the face of a threat. In situations where we feel threatened or unsafe, the amygdala sends signals to the hypothalamus, which then activates the sympathetic nervous system. This sets off a chain reaction of physiological responses, such as increased heart rate, accelerated breathing, and heightened alertness. These changes are intended to help us react quickly and effectively to potential dangers in our environment. The fight respo...
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