Amygdala Circuit Substrates for Stress Adaptation and Adversity

Brain systems that promote maintenance of homeostasis in the face of stress have significant adaptive value. A growing body of work across species demonstrates a critical role for the amygdala in promoting homeostasis by regulating physiological and behavioral responses to stress. This review focuses on an emerging body of evidence that has begun to delineate the contribution of specific long-range amygdala circuits in mediating the effects of stress. After summarizing the major anatomical features of the amygdala and its connectivity to other limbic struc-tures, we discuss recent findings from rodents showing how stress causes structural and functional remodeling of amygdala neuronal outputs to defined cortical and subcortical target regions. We also consider some of the envi-ronmental and genetic factors that have been found to moderate how the amygdala responds to stress and relate the emerging preclinical literature to the current understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Future effort to translate these findings to clinics may help to develop valuable tools for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases.

Automated summary

This review highlights the critical role of the amygdala in promoting homeostasis in response to stress by regulating physiological and behavioral responses. It also discusses how stress can cause structural and functional remodeling of amygdala circuits, as well as environmental and genetic factors that influence the amygdala's response to stress. Translating these findings to clinics may lead to valuable tools for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.