Limbic system

Haytham Eloqayli

Limbic system
limbic cortex: ring of cerebral cortex in each side of the brain. subcortical limbic structures

Limbic system
limbic cortex: orbitofrontal area subcallosal gyrus cingulate gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus temporal uncus.

Limbic system

Limbic system
-function is poorly understood

-functions as a transitional zone through which signals are transmitted from the brain cortex into the limbic system and in the opposite direction.
-ablation of the limbic cortex release the limbic system from the inhibitory effect of the cerebral cortex. e.g Bilateral removal of orbital frontal cortex can cause insomnia

Limbic system
subcortical limbic structures

hypothalamus

Septum paraolfactory area anterior nucleus of the thalamus portions of the basal ganglia hippocampus amygdala.

Limbic system
Function of the limbic system
Behavior and control of our behavior Emotions (nature of the sensations, pleasant or unpleasant) Learning and memory
All these functions are controlled through the Reward and punishment function of the limbic system.

Limbic system
Reward and punishment function: Reward (satisfaction)
e.g satisfiction after eating, drinking, successetc

Punishment (displeasure, fear, terror, pain..etc)

Limbic system
Reward Centers along the course of the medial forebrain bundle
especially ventromedial and lateral hypothalamic nuclei

Lateral nuclei of the hypothalamus

(weak stimuli give a sense of reward and stronger ones a sense of punishment) e.g mild hunger reward of food but not finding the food can lead to rage (punishment)

Limbic system
Punishment Centers
central gray area surrounding the aqueduct of Sylvius in the mesencephalon and the lateral hypothalamus (stronger stimuli).

Less potent reward and punishment areas are found in many locations of the limbic system like the amygdala and hippocampus.

Limbic system
Learning and Memory Reward or Punishment Reinforcement and Habituation selecting the information that we learn (important memory) while throwing away the unimportant information.

stimulus (experience) which cause either reward or punishmen is remembered (Reinforcement) stimulus (experience) that causes neither reward nor punishment is ignored (habituation)

Specific areas of the limbic system

Hypothalamus Hippocampus

Amygdala

Hypothalamus
Functions Behavior, vegetative, endocrine Connections Vegetative:to the brain stem (mainly reticular areas) from these areas into
the peripheral nerves of the autonomic nervous system

Behavior: to the other limbic areas and higher areas of the diencephalon and cerebrum. Endocrine: to the posterior and the anterior lobes of the
pituitary gland.

Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus
Vegetative:
1.Cardiovasculer regulation: both increase and decrease in blood pressure and heart rate. 2.Regulation of the body tempreture 3.Regulation of body water (through thirst center and ADH secretion) 4.Regulation of feeding. 5.Sexual drive

Hypothalamus
Lateral hypothalamus: thirst, hunger, increase level of activity (if strong rage, fear..etc) Ventromedial hypothalmus: satiety, decreased eating, tranquility. (functions opposite to the lateral hypothalmus) Supraoptic neuclei: secrete anti diurtic hormone (ADH (vasopressin)) in response to fluid concentration. Paraventricular neuclei: secrete oxytocin (utrine contraction at the end of pregnency and milk ejection).

Hypothalamus
Endocrine function
To the posterior pituitery (neurohypophysis): -ADH, Oxytocin. -directly to the nerve endings To the anterior pituitery (adenohypophysis): -ACTH-RH, GH-RH, FSH-RH, LH-RH, TSH-RH, PIF (dopamin) -through the blood (portal system)

Hypothalamus
Behavior Through reward and punishment centers

Hippocampus
-part of the reward and punishment centers -important role in learning and memory Abnormalities -Mesial temporal sclerosis and temporal lobe epilepsy -Anterograde amnesia

Amygdala
The behavior awareness area which is responsible for the behavioral response appropriate to each occasion. Bilateral ablation of the amygdala result in KluverBusy Syndrome (loss of fear, curiosity, abnormal and increase sexual driveetc).

Limbic system