Limbic System Knowledge Acquisition

What is the main purpose of the limbic system?

The limbic system is responsible for emotions, memory, and motivation, and it connects emotion with behavior and physiological responses.

Where is the limbic system located?

It's located deep within the brain, beneath the cerebral cortex, and includes structures like the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus.

What is the role of the amygdala?

The amygdala controls emotions such as fear, anxiety, and stress, and it triggers emotional responses.

What is the role of the hippocampus?

The hippocampus is responsible for forming and storing short-term and long-term memories.

What is the role of the hypothalamus?

The hypothalamus regulates automatic and homeostatic functions like hunger, hormones, and the fight-or-flight response.

What aspects of memory are tied to the hippocampus?

Both short-term and long-term memory are connected to the hippocampus.

How is the olfactory system tied to the limbic system?

Smells can trigger strong emotions and memories because scent signals go directly to the limbic system without passing through the thalamus.

What is the amygdala responsible for?

The amygdala is responsible for emotional responses such as fear, anxiety, and stress.

Describe the relationship between the amygdala and the hypothalamus.

The amygdala triggers the hypothalamus during emotional responses, activating the autonomic nervous system for fight-or-flight reactions.

How does the limbic system tie with the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

The limbic system, especially the hypothalamus, initiates emotional responses and regulates autonomic functions like heart rate and stress reactions.

How does the limbic system tie with sensory processing?

Sensory input (like pain or sound) can trigger the amygdala, which activates the hypothalamus and the ANS, creating physical and emotional responses.

Describe how the limbic system structures are affected by PTSD (Weiss, 2007).

PTSD causes decreased prefrontal cortex control, reduced hippocampus activation and volume, overactive amygdala, increased cortisol, and long-term health effects from chronic stress (allostatic load).

What happens to the prefrontal cortex in PTSD?

It shows decreased volume and reduced control over emotional responses.

What happens to the hippocampus in PTSD?

It shows decreased activation and volume, leading to impaired memory and difficulty distinguishing past from present emotional experiences.

What happens to the amygdala in PTSD?

It becomes hyperactive, leading to extreme emotional responses and hypervigilance.

What is allostatic load?

It is the long-term wear and tear on the body and brain from chronic stress and repeated activation of the stress response.

Describe the relationship between the ANS, limbic, and sensory systems.

Sensory input can trigger emotional processing in the limbic system (amygdala and hippocampus), which then activates the ANS through the hypothalamus to produce physical responses like increased heart rate.

What is a hidden curriculum?

The hidden curriculum includes the unspoken or implicit social rules and expectations that people are expected to know and follow.

Rules are not absolute — they are situation-based and people-based.

It's okay to joke with friends, but not appropriate to joke the same way with a professor. Social rules change depending on who you're with and where you are.

Not everything is equally important in the grand scheme of things.

Getting a low grade on one assignment doesn't mean you'll fail the class. Some things matter more than others, so don't let small issues feel bigger than they are.

Everyone makes mistakes — it doesn't have to ruin your day.

If you forget your notes once, it's not the end of the world. Mistakes are normal and don't define your success.

Honesty is different than diplomacy.

You can be truthful without being rude. For example, instead of saying "That project looks bad," say "I think adding more color could make it stand out."

Being polite is appropriate in any situation.

Always using "please" and "thank you" is respectful no matter the setting or mood.

Not everyone who is nice to me is my friend.

A teacher or coworker may be friendly but that doesn't make them a close friend. Kindness doesn't always mean personal friendship.

People act differently in public than they do in private.

You might act silly with family but more professional at school or work. It's normal to adjust behavior for the setting.

Know when you're turning people off.

Pay attention to body language—if someone steps back or avoids eye contact, you might be standing too close or talking too much.

Fitting in is often tied to looking and sounding like you fit in.

Wearing professional clothes for an interview or using polite language helps you fit the expectations of a situation.

People are responsible for their own behaviors.

Even if someone makes you angry, it's still your responsibility to stay calm and respectful. You control your actions and reactions.