Amygdala (comics)

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Amygdala

Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Batman: Shadow of the Bat #3 (Aug. 1992)
Created by	Alan Grant Norm Breyfogle

Characteristics
Alter ego	Aaron Helzinger
Affiliations	Arkham Asylum Various Gotham and Blüdhaven crime figures Lockhaven Prison
Abilities	Superstrength.

Amygdala is the alias of a DC Comics character, who is a sometime opponent of Batman. His real name is Aaron Helzinger. He has reduced mental capacity, is prone to outbursts of violence, and has super-strength.

[edit] Fictional character biography

Anatomically, the amygdala refers to the bundle of nerves in the brain that control emotional associations of many kinds. Helzinger's amygdala cluster was removed in an attempt to cure him of his homicidal rage (apparently by a doctor who did not understand the difference between the amygdala and the hypothalamus). Easily led due to his childlike nature, Amygdala has been the pawn of a number of Batman villains, but when properly medicated, he can be peaceful. He is often released into the community, where he has been an ally and friend of Dick Grayson (Nightwing, the former Robin). He lived in the hero's apartment building and worked as a warden in Lockhaven Prison. When Blockbuster was in the process of breaking Nightwing down both physically and emotionally, he blew up his apartment complex. Amygdala survived, but was heavily traumatized by the death of his friends.

As demonstrated in Klüver-Bucy syndrome, individuals with lesioned amygdalae in real life experience a wide range of emotions, including anger, but frequently in response to the wrong stimuli.