Limbic system
The limbic system is a group of related brain structures involved in, among others: in emotions, motivation, behavior, smell and memory.
Definition
The limbic system includes, among others: amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cingulate gyrus, thalamus and related structures, although the boundaries of this concept are defined in various ways. It is not a simple "emotional brain" separated from thinking. In practice, emotions, memory, body and cerebral cortex work together in networks, not in one closed module.
Key ideas
- Emotions and motivation
- Memory and behavior
- Brain networks instead of one center
Practice and life
When feeling a strong emotion, don't think "my limbic brain has taken over." Rather, write down: stimulus, emotion, body signals, thought and possible response.
Common misconceptions
It is wrong to say that the limbic system is responsible for emotions on its own. It is also wrong to contrast it with the cortex as if they did not cooperate.
> Emotions don't live in one place; they arise in the networks of the body and brain.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- How is emotion connected to memory and the body?
- Am I simplifying the brain to one center?
- How can I incorporate reflection into my emotional response?