The amygdala is small, ancient brain region that has long been thought to be important for experiencing and expressing emotions. In humans, this almond-shaped structure is nestled under the surface of the brain close to the temples (near the ears). Scientists think a part of the amygdala called the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is important for emotional learning. But how can the BLA—just one little brain region—do such an important task? To understand how the amygdala helps us learn how to feel about what happens to us, we first have to understand how the brain learns.
Brain cells called neurons form connections called synapses to communicate with one another. Different neurons are sensitive to different things that happen inside and outside of the body. The messages neurons send to each other produce experiences like fear, pleasure, and excitement, and also cause behaviors like startling, social interaction, and reward-seeking.

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