The limbic system is that part of our brain responsible for regulating physiological and emotional responses of our body. The anatomical structures of the limbic system are responsible for processing our emotions and regulating our behavior. This part of the brain has always aroused a lot of curiosity in the scientific community and in the world of psychology, that is because it is incredible to investigate how such a specific part of our anatomy can regulate something as important as our emotions.
In Psychology-Online, we will try to list the functions of this system and describe its anatomy with images that accurately illustrate the information provided. If you are interested in the limbic system, its parts, functions and diseaseswe invite you to continue reading the following article.
What is the limbic system
This set of brain areas has not always been defined as we understand it today, throughout historical evolution and advances in neuroscience, the term “limbic system“has evolved to the definition we have today.
Evolution of the term
Two centuries ago, a scientist named Paul Broca first referred to the limbic system to refer to the area adjacent to the Pineal gland. Broca spoke of a “large limbic lobe“and in that term he encompassed the entire medial side of the cerebral hemispheres around the corpus callosum. He also introduced the olfactory bulbs into this large lobe (even though these have little to do with the processing of emotions).
Later, James Papez discovered a circuit made up of nervous structures that are also part of the limbic system. This neurologist is known for being the first to propose a anatomical model for emotions and for putting everything related to the sentimental level under the scientific focus.
We had to wait until 1952 for Paul MacLean to coin the term “limbic system” that we use today. This scientist defined the neuronal structures involved in that system and proposed several theories about the brain and its evolution. In them, he stated that the emotional system was the most advanced of all of them (he defined it within the neomammalian brain) and that it was something typical of very advanced mammals.
Current definition of the limbic system
Today, we speak of the limbic system when we refer to the set of structures located in the brain (internal area of the brain) and whose main utility is the management and regulation of emotions. What we usually define as unconscious or irrational has its basis in a very specific area of human anatomy. This system is made up of structures such as the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala…among others that we will describe later.
Anatomy of the limbic system: main parts
The limbic system is located in the internal area of our brain, beyond the cerebral cortex. It receives influences from many other pathways of the nervous system related to the senses: auditory, visual, olfactory, touch and taste sensors. Being interconnected with so many other pathways, it is very difficult to make a completely precise diagram of all its anatomical elements. Among the main parts of the system we highlight the following:
1. Hippocampus
This element is related to the transformation from recent memory to long-term memory. We find it in the central part of the temporal lobe (1) and it also has an important function related to orientation and spatial memory.
2. Brain amygdala
The amygdala or amygdala body is an almond-shaped mass of neurons located in the temporal lobes (2). This area of the limbic system is related to the formation and storage of memory associated with facts or events that have produced strong emotions in us. The amygdala is said to be the seat of all emotions. In addition, recent studies also show that this element has a strong implication in the memory consolidation.
3. Thalamus
The thalamus is defined as the brain structure located above the hypothalamus (3). All sensory stimuli (except smell) pass through this area of our limbic system and are then referred to more specific areas. This part of our brain has the main function of behaving as a nucleus for connecting and associating stimuli and emotional information.
4. Hypothalamus
This small element of our emotional nervous system (4) is responsible for many neuronal functions. The hypothalamus is the most important area of the brain for managing and coordinating the balance of our body. This balance is known as homeostasis and it is the process by which we regulate ourselves and can remain stable in our environment. It has recently been discovered that it senses the levels of a protein called leptin when we eat too much and, in response to those levels, decreases our appetite. It also regulates behaviors such as sleep cycles and maintenance of body temperature.
5. Basal ganglia
The basal ganglia indirectly participate in the emotional nervous system; they are responsible for managing our motor responses (gestures or expressions) related to the emotional states produced by the other parts of the limbic system.
Parts of the limbic system
Below, we offer you a diagram so that you can better understand all the parts of this brain area.
Limbic system: main functions
As we have been repeating throughout this article, the limbic system is responsible for the regulation and motor expression of emotions. Next, we highlight the following functions of the limbic system:
- It seeks the self-preservation of the species through the activation of the homeostasis systems.
- It is responsible for managing the majority of brain mechanisms to the memory.
- The circuits of pleasure and addiction They pass through the amygdala, the hippocampus and other nuclei of the limbic system, so pleasant feelings begin right there.
- Activates the autonomic nervous system: it is responsible for sending signals to the nerves to maintain a state of alert (sympathetic nervous system) or to inhibit said state (parasympathetic nervous system).
- A possible involvement of the limbic system in some sexual behaviors.
The limbic system is the emotional brain?
When we talk about emotional experiences, a certain feeling of irrationality usually comes to mind, as if they were not part of our thinking mind. However, as we have shown, the brain is the main cause of our emotional responses. Therefore we can affirm that our emotions are processed by the central nervous system.
Can we talk about emotional brain when we refer to the limbic system? Next, we will answer your questions.
Relationship between limbic system and emotions
As we have commented throughout this article, the limbic system has a large number of neuronal structures responsible for regulate emotions through neurotransmitters.
The limbic system regulates our body’s responses to emotional stimuli. For example, it activates alert systems and increases heart rate when we are nervous or afraid. However, reducing its field of action to emotional responses is an approach that leaves aside many of the other functions that this system has and that we have mentioned previously.
Thanks to the studies of James Papez or more recently McLean with his, the emotional cores in this brain system. In fact, this last neurologist used the term limbic or emotional brain to one of the three structures that he lists in his theory.
Although it is true that today these theories are somewhat outdated and it has been shown that, in reality, emotions are regulated by the entire body, there is no doubt that there is an important relationship between the limbic system and emotions.
Limbic system: diseases
Once we have presented to limbic system, its parts and functionsthe time has come to list some of the diseases main.
Being such an important part of our nervous system, there are numerous disorders associated with the limbic system, among the most common we highlight the following:
- Schizophrenia: Many studies show that this disease is related to a notable decrease in the hippocampus. Therefore, this disorder also causes disorganization of memory and learning. We discover you here.
- : Part of the scientific community affirms that this type of attention disorders arise in people with an enlargement defect in the hippocampus and amygdala area. They maintain that, with so many overexcited neurons, children present behavioral and emotional disinhibition.
- Limbic encephalopathy: Patients suffering from this disease usually present long-term memory loss, behavioral changes and in some extreme cases seizures. Encephalopathy may have subtle symptoms at first but usually progresses rapidly. However, it has a good prognosis and good treatment can ensure complete recovery.
- Psychomotor epilepsy: The neurons located in the hippocampal area are injured, producing this very characteristic type of disease. It affects the temporal lobes and its symptoms vary between defects in writing (writing with letters that are too large or small) and sexual dysfunctions.
Explanatory video about the limbic system
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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