The amygdala is one of two almond-shaped clusters of nuclei located deep and medially within the temporal lobesof the brain in complex vertebrates, including humans.Shown in research to perform a primary role in the processing of memory, decision-makingand emotional responses (including fear, anxiety, and aggression), the amygdalae are considered part of the Limbic system.
Now the Hijacking part
when
the amygdala senses danger, it makes a split second decision and begins
the fight-or-flight response before the cortex has time to overrule it.
This
cascade of events triggers the release of adrenaline (epinephrine),
which leads to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. You
may experience a racing heart, shaking, sweating, and nausea as this
happens.
In
this way, the amygdala triggers a sudden and intense unconscious
emotional response that shuts off the cortex, making it hard for you to
think clearly about the situation. As your brain triggers the release of
stress hormones such as cortisol, you find it increasingly hard to
problem solve and concentrate. This whole process takes a toll, and you
may not recover to your original level of functioning for several
hours.
POSITIVE HIJACKS
POSITIVE HIJACKS
Goleman
points out that "'not all limbic hijackings are distressing. When a
joke strikes someone as so uproarious that their laughter is almost
explosive, that, too, is a limbic response. It is at work also in
moments of intense joy."
He
also cites the case of a man strolling by a canal when he saw a girl
staring petrified at the water. "Before he knew quite why, he had jumped
into the water—in his coat and tie. Only once he was in the water did
he realize that the girl was staring in shock at a toddler who had
fallen in—whom he was able to rescue.
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