The Role of the Amygdala in Agoraphobia and Panic Attacks

There has been a recent focus on the amygdala (pronounced “ah-mig-da-la”) in research investigating the cause of panic disorder and agoraphobia. There have also been some "new" treatment programs on the market that are aimed at interrupting a certain function of the amygdala.

So what is the amygdala and what does it have to do with panic attacks and agoraphobia?

The amygdala is a small structure located deep inside the brain of both humans and animals. It plays a significant role in panic disorder and agoraphobia because it houses the body’s “fight or flight” response.

Neuroscientists tell us that when the body is confronted by a perceived threat, danger signals are sent to two places in the brain:
1) The cerebral cortex
2) The amygdala

The cerebral cortex houses cognitive functions of the brain. It is the part of the brain you use to think conscious thoughts. When you perceive a potential threat, the danger signal sent to the cerebral cortex is sent in the form of information about the threat. The information about the perceived threat is consciously analyzed in the cerebral cortex.

The amygdala, which houses the fear response, is more automatic and less conscious than the cerebral cortex. When danger signals are sent to the amygdala, it sets off the "fight or flight" response to prepare the body to respond to the threat.

Two factors make the amygdala powerful in causing panic attacks:
1) The amygdala creates indelible (permanent) memories and associations, or so neuroscientists believe.
2) The amygdala activates the fear response faster than the cerbral cortex can analyze the information about the perceived threat.

The implication of present research on the amygdala is that treatment for panic disorder and agoraphobia is needed that offer the sufferer ways to gain cognitive control over the fear response activated by the amygdala.

Article Source: http://www.agoraphobia.net

Stephen Price is a recovered agoraphobic with a master’s degree in psychology. His informational website on agoraphobia featuring a free newsletter can be found at: www.agoraphobia.ws

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