In this video, I discuss the limbic system's role in emotion and I briefly describe some of the structures that are often included in the limbic system: the amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, cingulate cortex, septal nuclei, mammillary bodies, fornix, and hypothalamus.

For an article that discusses the limbic system more indepth, click this link: https://neuroscientificallychallenged...

TRANSCRIPT:

Welcome to 2 minute neuroscience, where I simplistically explain neuroscience topics in 2 minutes or less. In this installment I will discuss the limbic system.

The word limbic comes from the Latin limbus, which means border, and the limbic system was given this name because its structures lie along a horseshoe shaped area of cortex that appears to be a border between the cerebral cortex and the subcortical structures of the diencephalon. There are many processes associated with the limbic system, but the system is most frequently linked to emotion.

There is no consensus on the structures that are considered a part of the limbic system, and some argue that it is too much of a simplification to consider something as complex as emotion to be handled by one group of brain structures. Regardless, these are some structures that are often included in the limbic system.

The amygdala is an almondshaped collection of nuclei found in the temporal lobe that seems to be especially involved with fearful and anxious emotions.

The hippocampus is next to and interconnected with the amygdala. Although it is considered part of the limbic system, the hippocampus is generally associated with memory more so than emotion.

The parahippocampal gyrus is an area of cortex that surrounds the hippocampus and also plays a role in memory.

The cingulate cortex or cingulate gyrus is found just above the corpus callosum and is involved in various aspects of emotion and memory.

The septal nuclei have connections with a number of other limbic structures, and are thought to be especially important to pleasure, reward, and reinforcement.

The mammillary bodies are two groups of nuclei that are involved in memory and have extensive connections with the amygdala and hippocampus.

The fornix is a fiber bundle that carries information from the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies and then on to the thalamus.

The hypothalamus controls hormone release via the anterior pituitary and can exert widespread influence over bodily states to maintain homeostasis.

While there are other structures that may be included in the limbic system, the structures identified here are some that are commonly considered part of it.

REFERENCE:

Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, Hall WC, Lamantia AS, McNamara JO, White LE. Neuroscience. 4th ed. Sunderland, MA. Sinauer Associates; 2008.