What is the "amygdala" and how does it factor into epilepsy?

What is the "amygdala" and how does it factor into epilepsy?

Charles Ribak, Ph.D. (Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, UC Irvine School of Medicine) gives expert video advice on: What is the "cerebellum" and how does it factor into epilepsy?; What is the "frontal lobe" and how does it factor into epilepsy? and more...

There are many parts of the brain and the amygdala is one of the structures located in the temporal lobe of the brain. Temporal lobe epilepsy is an entire category of epilepsy, and the amygdala takes up a large part of this portion of the brain. The amygdala is deep to the temporal cortex, and it relates a lot with other structures that are part of the limbic system. The limbic is our emotional brain. It involves our emotions: getting angry, being happy, etc. This is what the amygdala is involved in. There are many other functions, but, for the most part, I think that simplifies what the amygdala is all about.