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Neuro 12 Limbic System Student
Neuro 12 Limbic System Student
History
Paul Broca (1824-1880):
1878: “le grand lobe limbique”
Refers to a ring of gray matter on
the medial aspect of the cerebral
hemispheres.
James Papez (1883-1958):
1930’s: defined a limbic system that might
underlie the relationship between emotion
and memory (Papez’ circuit).
Components
Amygdaloid body
Hippocampus (“seahorse”)
Cingulate gyus
Parahippocampal gyrus
Hypothalamus
Mamillary bodies
Anterior nucleus of thalamus
Functions
“Emotional brain
Emotional and motivational aspects of
behavior.
Provides emotional component to learning
process:
Especially the amygdala.
Associated with memory
Especially the hippocampus.
Associated with pain/pleasure, rage
Amygdala
Large nuclear group in temporal lobe.
Afferents:
Olfactory tract
Solitary nucleus
Parabrachial nucleus
Limbic neocortex:
Cingulate gyrus
Parahippocampal gyrus
Amygdala Connections
Cerebral cortex
Olfactory system Stria
terminalis Hypothalamus
Thalamus
Brainstem reticular formation
AMYGDALA
Ventral Amygdalofugal
fibers
Regions of the Amygdala
Large basolateral region:
Provides direct input to basal ganglia and
motor system.
Small corticomedial group of nuclei:
Related to olfactory cortex.
Medial and central nuclei:
Connected to hypothalamus.
Amygdala Inputs
Olfactory
System AMYGDALA
Corticomedial Nuclear
Temporal Lobe Group
(associated with visual,
Basolateral Nuclear
auditory, tactile senses)
Group
Central Nucleus
Brainstem (viscerosensory relay
Nuclei: solitary nucleus
and parbrachial nucleus)
Ventral
Amygdalofugal
Fibers
Amygdala Outputs
Stria Terminalis
Septal Nuclei
Hypothalamus
AMYGDALA
Corticomedial Nuclear
Group Dorsal Medial Thalamic Nucleus
Nucleus Accumbens
Basolateral Nuclear Hypothalamus
Group
Central Nucleus
Ventral
Nuclei of Amygdalofugal
ANS Fibers
Ventral
Amygdalofugal
Fibers
Functions of the Amygdala
Relate environmental stimuli to
coordinated behavioral autonomic and
endocrine responses seen in species-
preservation.
Responses include:
Feeding and drinking
Agnostic (fighting) behavior
Mating and maternal care
Responses to physical or emotional stresses.
Limbic System and Basal Nuclei
Anterior Cingulate Gyrus
Orbitofrontal Areas (10, 11)
Ventral Pallidum
Medial Globus Pallidus Ventral Anterior Nucleus
Pars Reticularis Dorsomedial Nucleus
(Substantia nigra)
Papez Circuit (Emotions)
Mammillothalamic
Fornix
Mammillary bodies tract
Other hypothalamic nuclei
Septal nuclei
Substantia innominata
(Basal nucleus of Meynert)
Hippocampal Formation
(hippocampus Anterior Thalamic
Neocortex nuclear group
and dentate gyrus)