Limbic System/Prefrontal Cortex

Limbic System

• At the base of the forebrain, just above the thalamus and hypothalamus

• Limbic means border (it is located around the edge of the center of the brain)

• Includes such structures as the hippocampus (seahorse), cingulate gyrus (girdle), septum (partition), and amygdala

• Helps regulate our emotional experiences and expressions and, to some extent, our ability to learn and to control our impulses

• Also involved with the basic drives of sex, aggression, hunger, and thirst

Cerebral Cortex

• Largest part of the forebrain

• Contains more than 80% of all neurons in the central nervous system

• Provides us with our distinctly human qualities (allowing us to look to the future and plan, to reason, and to create)

Divided into two hemispheres:

Each hemisphere consists of four separate areas, or lobes: temporal, parietal, occipital, and frontal

Cingulate Gyrus

an arch-shaped convolution situated just above the corpus callosum, helps regulate emotions and pain. It is also involved in predicting and avoiding negative consequences

Corpus Callosum

a structure in the middle of your brain that connects the right and left hemispheres, to integrate and transfer information from both cerebral hemispheres to process sensory, motor, and high-level cognitive signals

Thalamus

a mostly gray matter structure of the diencephalon that has many essential roles in human physiology. The thalamus is composed of different nuclei that each serve a unique role, ranging from relaying sensory and motor signals, as well as regulation of consciousness and alertness.

Hypothalamus

an area of the brain that produces hormones that control: Body temperature. Heart rate. Hunger. Mood.

Amygdala

an almond-shaped mass of grey matter in the brain that is primarily responsible for emotional responses, especially in situations involving anxiety, fear, or rage

Hippocampus

a group of brain structures that regulate your smells, emotions, memories and autonomic behaviors (such as heart rate, breathing, sweating, etc.)