The Limbic System

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the limbic system.

Limbic lobe

A set of structures in the brain associated with emotion, behavior, and memory.

Papez circuit

A neural circuit for controlling emotional expression and its relationship to memory.

Amygdala

A limbic structure involved in emotion regulation, particularly fear and pleasure.

Hippocampus

A limbic structure critical for memory formation and spatial navigation.

Hypothalamus

A brain region that regulates autonomic processes, including temperature control and hormones.

Olfactory bulb

The neural structure involved in the sense of smell and its connections to the limbic system.

Cingulate cortex

A part of the limbic system that plays roles in emotion formation and processing, learning, and memory.

Trisynaptic circuit

The hippocampal circuit composed of three synapses, critical for the process of memory.

Mammillary bodies

Nuclei of the hypothalamus that play a role in memory processing and are connected to the limbic system.

Olfaction

The sensory process of smelling, closely linked to emotional responses in the limbic system.

Stress reaction

The body's response to perceived threats, involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Circadian regulation

The natural process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and other bodily functions over a 24-hour period.

Visceral brain

A term reintroduced by Paul MacLean referring to the limbic system's roles in emotion and memory.

Limbic structures

Key components of the limbic system including the amygdala, hippocampus, and cingulate cortex.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses in the brain, important for mood and behavior.