Limbic System

limbic system

homeostasis

olfaction

memory

emotions, drive

hypothalamus

homeostasis

endocrine control

autonomic control

limbic mechanisms

solitary nucleus

visceral info from vagus nerve on BP/HR and gut distension

reticular formation and spinal cord

thermoregulation

anterior RF & spinal cord

detects increases in body temp; activates mechanisms of heat dissipation

posterior RF & spinal cord

detects decreases in body temp; heat conservation

important regulator for circadian rhythms

hypothalamus

(suprachiasmatic nucleus)

posterior hypothalamic nuclei

daytime

contain excitatory NTs contribute to arousal

SCN

nighttime

modulates body temp and production of hormones such as cortisol and melatonin for sleep

anterior hypothalamus

nighttime

RAS; get insomnia if damaged

lateral limbic system

stimulates eating, thirst

medial limbic system

inhibits eating, thirst

limbic system to hypothalamus

eating, thirst

reproduction

emotional influences on autonomic pathways

homeostatic control on immune regulation

circumventricular organs

changes in osmolarity

toxins

autonomic system

projections to parasympathetic and sympathetic systems to control HR, vasoconstriction, digestion, sweating, etc

pituitary gland

hormone secreting gland

endocrine system

anterior pituitary

contains glandular cells that synthesize and then release a variety of hormones into circulation

posterior pituitary

contains axons and terminals of neurons whose cell bodies are in hypothalamus

also releases into circulation

primary olfactory cortex

piriform cortex and periamygdaloid cortex

receives input without a need for relay through thalamus

entorhinal cortex

smell + memory

perirhinal cortex & parahippocampal cortex

orbitofrontal olfactory area

smell discrimination

amygdala

smell + emotion and motivation

memory

storage and consolidation of memory

medial and temporal diencephalic structures

medial temporal lobe memory areas

hippocampal formation

parahippocampal gyrus

perirhinal cortex

medial diencephalic memory areas

mediodorsal and anterior nuclei of thalamus

mammillary bodies of hypothalamus

executive function + memory

hippocampal formation

long term memory

parahippocampal gyrus

memory encoding and retrieval

perirhinal cortex

recognition and identification of environmental stimuli

hippocampal formation inputs

hetermodal AC

contralateral hippocampus

basal forebrain and septal nuclei

basal forebrain and septal nuclei

send cholinergic ACh projections

neuromodulatory effect, neuron excitability and synaptic plasticity

working memory

holding concept briefly in awareness while a mental operation is performed

3 main targets of fornix

mammillary bodies of hypothalamus

anterior nucleus of thalamus

septal nuclei

connects hippocampal formation with variety of subcortical regions

left temporal pole

semantic memory

meanings, names, general impersonal facts

right temporal pole

personal and episodic memory

olfactory system and hypothalamus

appetitive states

emotional and motivational aspects of smell

mediodorsal nucleus of thalamus

fear reflex

emotional learning → projections to hippocampus

limbic cortex and hypothalamus

neuroendocrinological modulation

changes in different emotional states

uncus

involved in olfaction

septal nuclei, basal forebrain

processing rewarding/pleasurable experiences

posterior cingulate cortex

recall of autobiographical memories