# Amygdala - Critical area in the [[Limbic system]] - Central to fear conditioning - Central to the processing of positive [[Emotions (MoC)|Emotions]] (e.g., rewards) - Evaluates information relevant to us, and involved in directing our response - Part of a "fear network" in the brain - When the amygdala acts up, the central thinking areas "quiet down" - More emotions implies less cognitive control Darmouth College's Whalen Lab has found that facial expressions produce "robust activation" of the Amygdala. Scientists theorize that frowns, sneers, smiles or furrowed brows are "conditioned stimuli". That is, such facial expressions have predicted certain outcomes in the past. [[More emotions implies less cognitive control]].