Limbic System Structures

Cingulate gyrus description

Most medial and deepest gyrus in the frontal and parietal lobes; located directly above the corpus callosum

Cingulate gyrus function

Plays a role in decision making in response to sensory data

Cingulate gyrus image

Parahippocampal gyrus description

Most medial and deepest gyrus in the temporal lobes

Parahippocampal gyrus function

Relays information between the hippocampus and other cerebral areas, particularly the frontal lobes (i.e. assists in deciding what to do by comparing a current situation to the memory of a past situation)

Parahippocampal gyrus image

Uncus description

Bulb like anterior end of the parahippocampal gyrus

Uncus function

Plays a role in olfaction, emotions, and memory

Uncus image

Fornix description

Arch shaped fibers that begin in the uncus and wrap around the mammillary bodies

Fornix function

Relay system for messages generated by the limbic system

Fornix image

Amygdala description

Almond shaped group of nuclei located in each anterior temporal lobe

Amygdala function

Plays a primary role in the mediation of fear, anger, and anxiety; additional roles include perception of social cues, generation of feelings of empathy, memory formation of emotionally arousing events

Amygdala image

Olfactory bulb and tract description

Located in the anterior cranial fossa, inferior to the orbital aspect of the frontal lobe

Olfactory bulb and tract function

Connects the limbic system structures and accounts for the deep association between specific odors and long-term memories that hold emotional significance

Olfactory bulb and tract image

Hippocampus description

Located within the parahippocampal gyrus

Hippocampus function

One of the major storehouses for long term memory and particularly memories with that are traumatic or emotionally laden

Hippocampus image