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

Missing key ideas.

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 misunderstanding

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.

Questions for self-reflection

No questions for self-reflection.

Sources

No sources.