GABA(A) receptors and inhibitory neurotransmission in the amygdalar complex

The amygdalar complex (AC) located in the mid-temporal lobe plays a key role in processing emotionally salient information to generate appropriate behavioural output. Inhibitory signalling mediated by GABAergic neurons, and acting through GABA(A)Rs within the AC, potently modulates local processing and output of the AC. Disorders of emotional processing such as anxiety and stress, engage the AC, and some of the treatments for these disorders are thought to act via GABA(A)Rs receptors in AC. Here we review GABAergic circuits in the AC, the distribution of GABA(A)Rs and their putative functional roles through subunit specific GABA(A)Rs signalling.