HYPOTHALAMUS, LIMBIC SYSTEM,

EMOTION & MOTIVATION

Learning objectives
 Functions of Hypothalamus
 Pathway of Limbic system
 Emotions & theory
 Neurophysiological mechanism of emotion
 Limbic functions
 Motivation and addiction
Limbic system (from limbus, Lt. = border) : limbic lobe
+ adjacent deep nuclei.
FUNCTIONS OF HYPOTHALAMUS
Functions Integrating areas
Temperature Anterior HT- response to heat
regulation Posterior HT- response to cold
Neuroendocrine
control
Appetitive Behavior
Thirst Lateral superior HT
Ventromedial, arcuate &
Hunger paraventricular nucleus; Lateral HT
Anterior HT + in male-piriform
Sexual behavior
cortex
Defensive reactions Diffuse in limbic system & HT
(fear & rage)
FUNCTIONS OF HYPOTHALAMUS CONTINUE…

Functions Integrating areas

Control of body rhythms Suprachiasmatic nuclei

LIMBIC SYSTEM
 Hypothalamus + limbic system=regulates
emotional & behavior
FUNCTIONS OF LIMBIC SYSTEM
 Motivation and addiction

 Emotions of rage and fear

 Learning and Memory

 Sexual behavior

 Autonomic responses.
PATHWAY OF LIMBIC SYSTEM
Papez circuit- classical circular pathway

Emotion
cognition BP
HR

Short term-
long term
memory

Recent Hypothalamus
memory
with Mamillary
body
 LIMBIC FUNCTION CONTINUE….

FEAR
 Stimulation of HT & amygdaloid nuclei- fear
reaction
 Amydaloid nuclei- concern with encoding
memories that evoke fear
 Destruction of amygdala- fear & its autonomic &
endocrine manifestation (-). Eg: monkey approach
snake without fear, pick them up & even eat them
 In human- amygdala damage- fear responses to
auditory & visual stimuli (-)
LIMBIC FUNCTION CONTINUE….

Kluver-Bucy Syndrome
 B/L ablation of amygdala (in monkey)
 Extreme curiosity about everything
 Forgets rapidly
 Has tendency to place everything in its mouth &
even tries to eat solid objects
 Strong sex drives- attempts to copulate with
immature animals, wrong sex or even with
different species
MOTIVATION & ADDICTION

 Motivation: the driving force behind behavior

that leads us to pursue some things and avoid
others
MOTIVATION & ADDICTION

Areas where stimulation leads to repeated bar

pressing
1.Ventral tegmentum
2.Medial forebrain bundle
3.Nucleus accumbens 4. Frontal cortex
 MOTIVATION & ADDICTION CONTINUE……
 Rewardor approach system- dopaminergic
pathway from ventral tegmental area to nucleus
accumbens
MOTIVATION & ADDICTION CONTINUE……

 Pusnishment or avoidance system- lateral

portion of posterior HT, dorsal midbrain &
entorhinal cortex
 Stimulation of reward or approach system
provides potent stimulation for learning or
performing tasks
ADDICTION
 Repeated compulsive use of substance despite

negative health consequences

 Associated with reward system & particularly
with nucleus accumbens
MOTIVATION & ADDICTION CONTINUE……

 Addictive drugs- opiates (morphine, heroin, cocaine,

amphetamine, ethyl alcohol & nicotine)
 Involve area-ventral tegmental area(VTA) projects via
mesocortical dopaminergic system to nucleus accumbens
 Opiates- in nucleus accumbens- increases availability of
dopamine in D3 receptor- acutely stimulate reward
system
END OF LIMBIC SYSTEM……!!!!