The amygdala is important in processing emotion, fear and pleasure. An event with greater emotional relevance is thought to be remembered better due to increased amygdala activity. The amygdala is composed of several closely situated nuclei: (1) basolateral complex, (2) centromedial nucleas, and (3) cortical nucleus. It has strong hippocampal and hypothalamic connections and projects to the dorsal forebrain and the brain stem tegmentum.

A disorder that reveals some of the functions of the amygdala is Kluver-Bucy syndrome.