ABSTRACT
The amygdalae (Latin for almonds) exist as two almond-sized structures beneath the temporal lobes of the cortex (one on the left side and one on the right: Figure 9.1). Whereas the hippocampi are specialised for explicit memory storage and vary in size according to current requirements, the amygdalae have a much more stable memory, specialised for remembering threats, generalising these memories to other possible threats and keeping them available so that any resemblance to current situations picked up by the surveillance services is quickly identified (Cozolino 2006).
