LIMBIC SYSTEM

MADE BY:- AMAN KUMAR

GROUP:-C
 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)

Medial and lateral temporal lobe

Ventral Striatum
Hippocampus
(nucleus accumbens)
Amygdala
Caudate Nucleus
Entorhinal cortex (24)
(head)

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)

Parahippocampal Gyrus Cortex of Cingulate Gyrus

Pathologies (lesions)

 Voracious appetite
 Increased (perverse) sexual activity
 Docility:

Loss of normal fear/anger response

 Memory loss:

Damage to hippocampus portion:

Cells undergoing calcium-induced changes
associated with memory
Kluver-Bucy Syndrome:

 Results from bilateral destruction of amygdala.

 Characteristics:

Increase in sexual activity.

Compulsive tendency to place objects in
mouth.
Decreased emotionality.
Changes in eating behavior.
Visual agnosia.