Calming the Amygdala: Evidence-Based Practices

In this video, I will discuss why the amygdala fires faster than the cortex,

which temperaments are most reactive, and evidence-based practices that help calm the brain during

emotional overwhelm. The amygdala is the brain’s emergency alarm system. Its job is simple

— protect you first, think later. Research shows that the amygdala reacts to perceived threat

within milliseconds, long before the prefrontal cortex has time to analyze the situation (LeDoux,

2015). This fast response is what many people know as the “amygdala hijack.” The brain

evolved this way for survival. Our ancestors needed immediate reactions to danger,

and that wiring remains active today. The cortex, especially the prefrontal cortex,