Coarse threat images reveal theta oscillations in the amygdala: A magnetoencephalography study

Temporal processing of emotional stimuli: The capture and release of attention by angry faces.

“…This finding accords well with recent face processing data from neuroimaging literature (e.g. Maratos et al 2009;Hung et al 2010;Luo et al 2010). …”

Automatic emotional information processing and the cortisol response to acute psychosocial stress

“…Evolutionarily significant information can activate physiological indices of the fear response at an early stage of information processing, prior to conscious awareness (Öhman et al, 2007), through the activation of a subcortical neural circuit between the thalamus and lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LeDoux, 2002;Maratos, Mogg, Bradley, Rippon, & Senior, 2009;Morris, Öhman, & Dolan, 1998;Whalen et al, 2004). The coarse stimulus analysis occurring in this circuit (i.e., Whalen et al, 2004) may underlie a biologically prepared response to mobilize the body for action (i.e., increasing blood glucose levels) in the face of threat.…”

Joy and Calm: How an Evolutionary Functional Model of Affect Regulation Informs Positive Emotions in Nature

“…Largely based upon the research of LeDoux (2014;, the amygdala is well-established as playing a key role in the processing of emotional information, regulating emotional responses and controlling fear reactions in a range of species (see for example Fox et al, 2015& Phelps & LeDoux, 2005. Indeed, much recent research still supports the notion that a phylogenetically old subcortical pathway provides rapid, but coarse, threat-related signals in humans via the amygdala (Mendez-Berolo et al, 2016;Maratos et al 2009). However, this approach isn't without criticism and Pessoa (2014) suggests that given its rich connectivity the amygdala is arguably a processing hub belonging to a minimum of at least three networks pertaining to: visual processing; autonomic awareness & the generation of bodily states; and, a values network in which the value of a current state and future reward is evaluated relatively.…”