The Limbic System Flashcards
What does the limbic system include?
The hippocampus, the amygdala & the hypothalamus.
What does the hippocampus involve?
Memory.
What does the hypothalamus do?
It regulates eating and the day-night cycle, among other functions.
What does the amygdala relate to?
Emotional responses to stimuli in the environment.
What does the limbic system have a role in?
In self-preservation.
What do structures in the limbic system control?
Our temperature, the fight-or-flight response, etc.
What is the fight-or-flight response?
Our arousal in the face of danger.
Why is what is controlled by the limbic system in response to emotions rather than thoughts?
Because as the limbic system is linked to our autonomic systems, so it responds ‘automatically’ to danger rather than in a planned way.
The hypothalamus has a balancing system.
What is this called?
Homeostasis.
Homeostasis is about…
… putting the body back into balance.
What does the hypothalamus regulate?
Hunger, thirst, response to pain, anger, aggression & sexual satisfaction.
It also regulates the autonomic part of the nervous system, which means regulating blood pressure, pulse, breathing & arousal levels (fight or flight).
What does the hypothalamus detect?
It detects the levels of leptin in the body.
What is leptin?
A hormone.
When is leptin released?
When we overeat, as it senses the levels of fat in our bodies.
How does the hypothalamus control our appetite?
By using levels of leptin.
