CLINICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL-EFFECTS OF STEREOTAXIC BILATERAL AMYGDALOTOMY FOR INTRACTABLE AGGRESSION

The amygdala is thought to be an important neural structure underlying the ''fight-or-flight'' response, but information on its role in huma ns is scarce. The clinical and psychophysiological effects of amygdala r destruction were studied in 2 patients who underwent bilateral amygd alotomy for intractable aggression. After surgery, both patients who u nderwent bilateral amygdalotomy for intractable aggression. After surg ery, both patients showed a reduction in autonomic arousal levels to s tressful stimuli and in the number of aggressive outbursts, although b oth patients continued to have difficulty controlling aggression. The ''taming effect'' reported after bilateral amygdalar destruction may b e due to the amygdala's inadequate processing of perceived threat stim uli that would normally produce a fight-or-flight response.