Figure 1.
The basolateral complex of the amygdala receives sensory input from afferent areas including various thalamic nuclei and cortical fields. If this information is processed as a threat signal (e.g., as a result of conditioning), it is passed on to the medial division of the central nucleus of the amygdala, and also to the anterolateral BNST – areas that project, in turn, to a common set of target areas (some shown here) that mediate fear-associated behaviors. Arrows indicate functional connections, and do not imply mono-synaptic projections.