The limbic system, also known as the emotional brain, is a set of structures located in the mammalian brain, below the cortex and responsible for all emotional responses.
The name "limbic" is derived from the idea of limbo because it is situated on the boundary of parts of the brain's neuroanatomy between the cortex and the reptilian brain. This term was coined in 1878 by the French physician and anatomist Paul Broca.
Among the various functions for which the limbic system is responsible are: emotional responses, behavior and memory.
The Function of the Limbic System
The great function of the limbic system in human beings is to coordinate social activities that enable the maintenance of the species through its life in society.
Emotions and feelings are only possible through the functioning of the limbic system. Developing relationships that allow a life in community depend on the activity of neurons located in these structures.
Neuroanatomy of the Limbic System
The limbic system is the set of several structures of connected neurons that act in an integrated and complementary way. Its main structures are:
1. girdle turn
The cingulate gyrus or cingulate gyrus is the area responsible for a series of emotional responses such as the relationship between odors and images with the memory of pleasant experiences.
The turning of the cingulate also controls aggression and emotional responses to pain, as well as learning through positive and negative reinforcement (reward and punishment).
2. tonsils
The tonsils are two spherical structures of the limbic system neuroanatomy. It is one of the most important areas, responsible for emotional responses related to the social behavior of humans and other mammals. It is one of the main areas of aggressiveness control.
The area is connected to the hippocampus and hypothalamus via the fornix. It develops a series of connections that control various autonomous activities in the body such as emotional changes in heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.
The relationship between emotional stimuli and muscle responses such as gestures or facial expressions are also mediated by this group of neurons.
3. thalamus
The thalamus is responsible for communicating neurons from different areas of the limbic system. Located in the innermost part of the brain, its connections are related to motor and sensory functions.
4. hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is one of the most important areas of the limbic system. Its function is to regulate hormonal production and other metabolic processes, it connects the nervous system to the endocrine system.
The activities performed by the hypothalamus controls the entire biological cycle, sleep, hunger, thirst, body temperature and is the center of sexual activity. The hypothalamus is also responsible for regulating various autonomic activities in the body.
5. Septum
The septum coordinates the relationships between feelings of pleasure, memories and sexual functions such as orgasm.
6. nipple body
The nipple body is responsible for transmitting impulses from the tonsils and hippocampus. It also works in maintaining recent memory and spatial memory linked to the location of objects and events.
Problems Related to the Limbic System
By developing a series of activities of the human body, the malfunction of the limbic system can lead to various dysfunctions and diseases such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Memory problems (recent or long term)
- Alzheimer's
- Schizophrenia
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Psychomotor Epilepsy
Interested? See too:
- Brain
- brain
- Central Nervous System
- Nervous system
- Human Body System
