NERVOUS SYSTEM

PHYSIOLOGY
Dr Shahab Shaikh

PhD, MD

Lecture 11: Limbic System

College of Medicine
College of Medicine

Al Maarefa Colleges of Science &

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lecture students should
be able to .
Enumerate structures included in limbic
system
Outline the role of Limbic system in
Emotions, Behavior and Learnings
Discuss role of Hippocampus and
Amygdala in Emotions, Behavior and
learning.
Appraise the clinical role of limbic system
neuronal circuitry

LIMBIC SYSTEM
The Limbic system is a functional
system consisting of a complex set of
brain structures located on both sides of
the thalamus, at the base of cerebrum.
The limbic system neuronal circuitry is
associated with
1. Emotions
2. Basic Behavioral patterns
3. Motivation
4. Learning & Memory
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LIMBIC SYSTEM
Emotions:

are a state of feeling ( a pleasant or unpleasant

mental state) that results in physical and
psychological changes that influence our behavior.
Emotional
feelings
include
mood,
anger,
happiness, fear, etc. and associated physical
responses includes laughing, crying etc.
Emotion is often the driving force behind
motivation, positive or negative.
Emotions involve different components, such as
subjective
experience,
cognitive
processes,
psycho-physiological changes, and expressive
behavior.
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LIMBIC SYSTEM
Motivation:
It is the ability to
direct
behavior
toward specific goals.
Most
goal-directed
behaviors are aimed
at satisfying specific
physical
needs
related
to
homeostasis
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LIMBIC SYSTEM
Limbic System includes :
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Cingulate gyrus
Fornix
Septal area
Portions of hypothalamus, Basal Ganglia
Portions of thalamus: Ant Thalamic Nuclei
Nucleus accumbens
parahippocampal gyrus
limbic cortex.

LIMBIC SYSTEM
Functions:

Emotion
Motivation
Behavior
Decision Making
Pleasure Center (Nucleus Accumbens)
Associated with Learning & Memory

The limbic system operates by

influencing the Cortex, endocrine system
and the autonomic nervous system.
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LIMBIC SYSTEM

LIMBIC SYSTEM

Cingulate Gyrus
Situated in the medial aspect of the cerebral
cortex and lies immediately above the corpus
callosum.
Is involved with emotion formation and
processing, learning and memory.
Important role in disorders such as depression
and schizophrenia.

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Amygdala
Are two almond-shaped groups of nuclei
located deep and medially within the
temporal lobes of the brain.
Perform a primary role in the processing
of
memory,
decision-making,
and
emotional reactions.
There are functional differences between
the right and left amygdala and also
between Male and Female Amygdala.
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Amygdala
The Amygdala perform primary role in the
formation and storage of memories
associated with emotional events. E.g. Fear
Conditioning.

Also involved in memory consolidation Formation of Long Term Memory.

The amygdala plays a pivotal role in
triggering a state of fear.
Amygdala is associated with Anxiety and
panic attacks.
Studies link amygdalae to the emotional
reactions of PTSD patients.
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Amygdala
Role
in
Social
behavior:
It
is
hypothesized that larger amygdalae
allow for greater emotional intelligence,
enabling greater societal integration
and cooperation with others.
Stimulating the amygdala appears to
increase both sexual and aggressive
behavior.

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Amygdala
Bilateral ablation of amygdala results in
(Klwer-Bucy Syndrome):
Not afraid of anything
Extreme curiosity about everything
Forgets rapidly
Tendency to place everything in mouth &
eating objects
Strong sexual drive

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Hippocampus
Major part of limbic system located in
the medial temporal lobe of the brain
bilaterally.
Has important role in formation of new
memory about experienced events
(Episodic Memory).
Bilateral hippocampal damage results
mainly in Anterograde amnesia and
often also retrograde amnesia
Believed to have role in spatial memory
and navigation.
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Hippocampus
Hippocampal sclerosis is the most
commonly visible type of tissue damage
in temporal lobe epilepsy
In
Alzheimer's
disease,
the
hippocampus is one of the first regions
of the brain to suffer damage.
There is evidence that there is atrophy
of the hippocampus more than of other
parts of the brain in humans having
post-traumatic
stress
disorder,
schizophrenia or severe depression.
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Behavioral Functions of the Hypothalamus

lateral hypothalamus
eating, thirst, general level of activity,
rage

ventromedial nucleus
satiety,tranquility

periventricular nucleus
fear,punishmentreactions

anterior
and
hypothalamus

posterior

Behavior and its Control

Reward and punishment caused by the Limbic
system are important for behavior.
Several limbic structures are concerned with
sensory experience is it pleasant or
unpleasant?
Reward center located in
the lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus,
thalamus certain areas,
Amygdala

Punishment center located in

Hypothalamus
Thalamus
Amygdala and
Hippocampus

Neurotransmitters associated with

limbic system

Norepinephrine
Acetylcholine
Dopamine
Serotonin
Many drugs increase dopamine in pleasure
pathways in limbic system, therefore, cause
intense sensation of pleasure e.g. cocaine
blocks re-uptake of dopamine at synapses
Amphetamine, used in depression, causes
increased release of dopamine from
dopamine secreting neurons
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Clinical Application
Depression:
It is psychiatric disorder associated with
defect in limbic system neurotransmitters
In depression, neurotransmitter decreased
is Norepinephrine or serotonin or both
Symptoms:

Loss of interest
Negative mood
Inability to experience pleasure
Suicidal tendency
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Clinical Application

Dementia
Alzheimer disease
Amnesias
Anxiety
Depression etc.

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References
Human physiology by Lauralee Sherwood, 9th
edition
Text Book Of Physiology by Guyton & Hall, 11th
edition
Review of Medical Physiology by Ganong, 24th
edition

THANK YOU

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