7 (Limbic System)

What is the limbic system, what does it do

A collection of grey matter nuclei connected via white matter tracts

Does Memory and Emotion and Behavior

What does Hippocampus do?

Who, what, where, when

long term memory formation

output to cortex via fornix

Mammillary Bodies

episodic memory, help with generation of behavioral reactions

Fornix

Major output pathway of the hippocampus, protects mamillary bodies

Mammillothalamic Tract

White matter tract, connects mammillary bodies to anterior thalamic nuclei

Cingulate gyrus

“Reality check”

information from here can either go posterior to memory consolidation (back to parahippocampal gyrus) or anterior to the prefrontal cortex (to act)

Papez Circuit

Parahippocampal gyrus - hippocampal formation - fornix - mamillary bodies - mammillothalamic tract - anterior thalamic nuclei - cingulate gyrus - cortex/hippocampus

Parahipocampal gyrus

collects sensory input

Emotion and Behavior Circuit

Amygdala — hypothalamus — autonomic nervus system + pituitary — behavioral and physiological responses

Amygdala

Evaluates emotional significance of stimulus, modifies hippocampal memory encoding

Output to hypothalamus

Amygdala sends signals to the hypothalamus nuclei

Hypothalamus

maintains homeostasis

ANS and Pituitary

Automatic responses or increased hormones for feelings

Dorsomedial thalamus

involved in emotional behavior, connects emotion to conscious experience