The amygdala has long been implicated in emotional learning in particular fear.
Removal of the amygdala from animals produces a fearless animal, yet for obvious ethical reasons, removal of the amygdala from humans hasn't been tried.
Recently a woman has been found without an amygdala. She has been threatened by a knife and held at knife point. Taking her to a petshop, she had no fear of snake of any size or venomousness and had to stopped by researchers from holding the tarantulas due to the risk of getting bitten. Fear was instead reproduced by a heightened state of arousal and level of interest.
Interestingly, when shown scary films she responded with the normal emotions, i.e. disgust at graphic scenes and laughter at comedy, but at no time reported or displayed symptoms of fear. It strengthens evidence that the amygdala is the neural seat of fear, but questions its role in other emotions.
BBC News - Woman who cannot feel fear may help in treating PTSD
The Human Amygdala and the Induction and Experience of Fear
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