The Limbic system

Question 1

Where is the limbic system?

Answer 1

On both sides of the thalamus, right under the cerebrum.

Question 2

What are the key components of the limbic system?

Answer 2

Mainly:
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Diencephalon (thalamus & hypothalamus)

Also:
Fornix
Mammillary body
Pineal gland

And:
Anterior thalamic nuclei
Olfactory bulbs 
Septum pellucidum
Cingulate gyrus
Parahippocampal gyrus

Question 3

What does the fornix do?

Answer 3

Carries signals from hippocampus to hypothalamus

Question 4

What do the mammillary bodies do?

Answer 4

Connected to hippocampus, play a part in recollective memory

Question 5

What does the pineal gland do?

Answer 5

Endocrine gland that makes melatonin - sleep cycle

Question 6

How many hippocampi are there? Where are they?

Answer 6

2

One on each side located in the medial temporal lobe

Question 7

What does the hippocampus do?

Answer 7

Memory

• converts short term to long term memory
• retrieves memory where necessary

Question 8

What does damage to hippocampus result in?

Answer 8

Anterograde amnesia - inability to lay down new memories

Question 9

What does the hypothalamus do?

Answer 9

Controls autonomic nervous system, maintaining homeostasis

Contains hunger, thirst and temperature regulation centres

Control of pituitary gland

Emotions

Question 10

There are loads of nuclei in the thalamus - name them and say what they secrete?

Answer 10

Supraoptic - ADH
Suprachiasmatic - circadian rhythms
Lateral - hunger
Ventromedial - satiety
Paraventricular - oxytocin

Question 11

Where is the amygdala? How many are there? What does it look like?

Answer 11

In the medial temporal lobe. There are 2 on each side, at anterior end of hippocampus

Looks like a almond

Question 12

What does the amygdala do?

Answer 12

Stimulated by social and emotional stimulus - sights, smells, faces and facial expression

Stores memories associated with emotional events, fear & pleasure