#english #brain_integration #brain_development #child_development #freeWill 🧠 **Key Idea:** The **amygdala**, an almond-sized structure in the limbic area of the "downstairs brain," acts as an **emotional alarm system**, especially for fear and anger. ### 📍 Location & Function - **Size:** About the size of an almond --> from the greek word - **Location:** In the **limbic area**, part of the **downstairs brain**. - **Main Role:** Processes and expresses emotions, especially **anger and fear**. ### ❓ Why It’s Important - Acts as an **early warning system**, alerting us to threats and danger. - Can **hijack** the upstairs brain (prefrontal cortex), triggering **action before thinking** --> this is useful in **emergencies**, but can cause problems when in every day situations ### 🧒 In Children - **More reactive** and fires **more frequently** than in adults. - During intense emotion or stress, it can **“latch onto”** the upstairs brain, making **reasoning, self-control, and problem-solving** inaccessible (which are operations of the upstaires brain) 💡 **Insight:** While the amygdala is vital for survival, children benefit from learning **emotional regulation techniques** to prevent unnecessary hijacks of the upstairs brain. 📖 **Source:** - Derived from *The Whole-Brain Child* → [[The Whole-Brain Child]] 📍 **Knowledge Compass** [[ENG - The Brain Functions Like Multiple Personalities with Different Roles]] [[ENG - Integration Helps Different Parts of the Brain Work Together]]