This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate whether the amygdala is activated in response to emotional stimuli, even when subjects are unaware of the stimuli. Ten healthy subjects were presented with backward-masked facial expressions of fear and happiness, with the mask being a neutral expression. Despite reporting only seeing neutral faces, fMRI showed significantly higher blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in the amygdala during viewing of masked fearful faces compared to masked happy faces. This difference was attributed to increased activation in the amygdala for fearful faces and decreased activation for happy faces. Additionally, the subiculum and substantia innominata (SI) were activated by both fearful and happy faces, suggesting a spatial dissociation between emotional valence and salience or arousal. The study highlights the automatic processing of emotional stimuli by the amygdala and its role in nonconscious emotional processing.This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate whether the amygdala is activated in response to emotional stimuli, even when subjects are unaware of the stimuli. Ten healthy subjects were presented with backward-masked facial expressions of fear and happiness, with the mask being a neutral expression. Despite reporting only seeing neutral faces, fMRI showed significantly higher blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in the amygdala during viewing of masked fearful faces compared to masked happy faces. This difference was attributed to increased activation in the amygdala for fearful faces and decreased activation for happy faces. Additionally, the subiculum and substantia innominata (SI) were activated by both fearful and happy faces, suggesting a spatial dissociation between emotional valence and salience or arousal. The study highlights the automatic processing of emotional stimuli by the amygdala and its role in nonconscious emotional processing.