[What is the cerebral amygdaloid complex?].

The amygdaloid complex (AC) is considered to be one the basal nuclei of the telencephalon. However, a combination of two principals of the grey substance organizations--nuclear and shielded--in its territory, distinguished AC from the group of the subcortical nuclei defines its specific position among other structures of the telencephalon. A peculiar structure of AC is a consequence of certain evolutionary rearrangements of the brain in the process of histological development of organisms; principally important among them is appearance of the ancient cortex formations (++semi-separated) from elements of the ganglionic tubercle. The latter explains existence of tight anatomical and functional connections between typical nuclei and the ancient cortex structures. The new notion of the AC substrate as a specific nucleolar-paleocortical integrative center of the telencephalon gives a clue for understanding a number of specific, still remaining enigmatic functional phenomena in this formation. They evidently reflect a close interaction of its nuclei and paleocortical structures, that makes the base of its activity.