Amygdala Archives

A woman sits on a chair in a studio with a neutral backdrop, overlaid with yellow flowers and barbed wire against a black background.

The neuroscience of extremes: ruthless psychopathy to extraordinary generosity

“There's a very pervasive belief that human nature is fundamentally selfish, but I know for a fact that that can't be true in part because my life was saved by a stranger a long time ago when I was 19.”

Abigail Marsh

A red flower with a green stem and leaf drawn using overlapping scribbled lines on a black background.

17mins

The Big Think Interview

Anxiety gives you an advantage. Unlock it with neuroplasticity

“Anxiety is focused on things that are important to you in life. That is the key.”

Wendy Suzuki

A split image showing the left half of a woman's face and the right half as a digital brain with neural connections and data waves.

7mins

Perception Box

Trauma, healing, and your nervous system explained

Three doctors break down brain function, somatic awareness, and how to recover from bad experiences.

Wendy Suzuki, James Doty & Bessel van der Kolk

Unlikely Collaborators

An older man with glasses stands next to a diagram of a brain highlighting the “core imprint of trauma” with a red dot and an arrow.

6mins

Perception Box

Trauma makes your world feel small — here’s how to open it up again

Psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk discusses key methods for rewiring the brain, kickstarting the healing process, and opening your mind to new perspectives.

Bessel van der Kolk

Unlikely Collaborators

9mins

Explain It Like I’m Smart

The psychopathic brain is different—but it CAN be treated

Humans are among the most altruistic species that we’ve studied, due to our alloparental instincts – a trait we evolved into that allows us to care for offspring who are […]

Abigail Marsh