But the person will have felt a jolt because of the initial arousal of the amygdala. This double pathway is very different from the limbic system that is taught to every biology student, LeDoux said. When these sensations are integrated in the limbic system, emotional experiences occur. The basic idea that there is a system for dealing with emotion that is divorced from cognition is a good one, LeDoux said. The amygdala alone sits at the center.
Sensory information comes in and motor commands are sent out.
Emotion and cognition are separate but interacting mental functions mediated by separate but interacting brain systems. Such double wiring can create problems for people, LeDoux said. Neural connections from the cortex down to the amygdala are less well developed than are connections from the amygdala back up to the cortex. Thus, the amygdala exerts a greater influence on the cortex than vice versa. Once an emotion is turned on, it is difficult for the cortex to turn it off.