The amygdala can strengthen neural connections when conditions of emotional saliency are met.

“And because the amygdala is so extensively interconnected with other areas of the brain. It basically connects to everything and everything connects back to it. The amygdala is in a position to strengthen particular connections in the brain very easily. Provided certain conditions are met. And those conditions are the ones we've been talking about up until now. Emotional saliency that results in increases in epinephrine and cortisol. Or circulating epinephrine and cortisol being much higher than it was 10 minutes or 15 minutes before.”