Who is Amy Gdala?

...Was my first question when our upcoming show was first announced, a stupid question to many, but as booking have been coming in, confusion on how to pronounce the word and what it actually means appear common place.

So first things first; “Am-ig-da-la” is the correct pronunciation of the word.

And according to Wikipedia (the source of all internet knowledge):   “The amygdalae are almond-shaped groups of nuclei located deep and medially within the temporal lobes of the brain in complex vertebrates, including humans.  Shown in research to perform a primary role in the processing of memory and emotional reactions, the amygdalae are considered part of the limbic system.”

Insightful!

In terms of what it means as regards to Geraldine Alexanda’s play, well it can be explained quite simply by reading the blurb on the back of our promotional flyers.

“Catherine is in a post-traumatic state and Simon, an eminent psychiatrist, is employed to help her recover her memory in time to give evidence in the trail of Joshua James.

As the date for the trial approaches, Simon becomes absorbed with the working of his patient’s brain, as he grapples with his preconceptions of truth, memory and perspective.”

Further understanding to these nut shaped nuclei and their connection to our upcoming play are explained thus:

Recent studies suggest that, while the amygdala is not itself a long-term memory storage site, and learning can occur without it, one of its roles is to regulate memory consolidation in other brain regions.

During the consolidation period, the memory can be modulated. In particular, it appears that emotional arousal following the learning event influences the strength of the subsequent memory for that event. Greater emotional arousal following a learning event enhances a person's retention of that event.