ABSTRACT
The limbic system is the centre for the control of emotions, including fear and aggression. The tertiary input to the amygdala is the final output from the septo-hippocampal system. Human emotions fall into five basic categories, which are, in themselves, independent of religious, cultural, or social groups, and therefore likely to be the product of innate neurological activity. The psychological symptoms of anxiety include a sense of fear or apprehension, restlessness and irritability, loss of concentration, and disturbed sleep. Neuroscientists are keen to understand the anatomy and physiology of fear in order to be able to unlock the prison in which so many frightened people spend their lives. The amygdala now has all the relevant information necessary to determine an appropriate emotional response. The endocrine component of the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing factor or hormone (CRF or CRH), which causes the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland into the general circulation.
