Bihemispheric organization of amygdalo-cortical projections in the rat

Two fluorescent dyes were injected symmetrically into the prefrontal cortices of the left and right hemisphere. A consistent number of amygdaloid neurons was labeled from the injection in the contralateral cortex. Each nucleus of the basolateral amygdaloid complex showed a specific pattern of contralaterality. The highest degree of bihemisphericity was observed in the ventral basolateral nucleus. A significant number of neurons connected with the cortex of both hemispheres by means of axon collaterals was observed in the anterior basolateral nucleus. These anatomical findings indicate that the basolateral amygdaloid complex could act as subcortical link for interhemispheric communication.

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