Major Function Of The Limbic System
ANSWERS
The limbic system is the part of the brain involved in our behavioral and emotional responses, particularly when it comes to survival behaviors such as feeding, reproduction, and caring for our young, as well as fight or flight responses.
The limbic system’s structures can be found deep within the brain, beneath the cerebral cortex, and above the brainstem. The thalamus, hypothalamus (production of essential hormones and regulation of thirst, hunger, mood, and so on), and basal ganglia (reward processing, habit formation, movement, and learning) are also involved in the limbic system actions. Still, the hippocampus and amygdala are two significant structures.
Like many other brain structures, the hippocampus is found in pairs, one in each hemisphere. It has the shape of a curvy seahorse (named after its scientific genus) and serves as our brain’s memory center. Our episodic memories are formed and cataloged here before being stored in long-term storage across other areas of the cerebral cortex.
The connections formed in the hippocampus also assist us in associating memories with various senses (the association between Christmas and the scent of gingerbread would be forged here). The hippocampus is also essential for spatial orientation and navigation in the world.
The hippocampus is one of the brain regions where new neurons are formed from adult stem cells. This process is known as neurogenesis, at the root of one type of brain plasticity. As a result, it’s not surprising that this is an important brain structure for learning new things.
The name “amygdala” refers to its almond-like shape. The left and right amygdalae, which are located right next to the hippocampus, play an essential role in our emotional responses, including feelings such as pleasure, fear, anxiety, and anger. Because the amygdala attaches dynamic content to our memories, it significantly determines how well those memories are stored. Memories with solid emotional significance tend to stick.
The amygdala not only modifies the strength and emotional content of memories; it also plays a vital role in forming new memories, particularly those related to fear. Fearful memories can be created with just a few repetitions. As a result, ‘fear learning has become a popular method for studying the mechanisms of memory formation, consolidation, and recall.
QUESTION
Major Function Of The Limbic System
What is a major function of the limbic system? Explain your answer.
a. Overall control of fluid balance
b. Required for logical thinking, reason, and decision making
c. Determines emotional responses
d. Responsible for artistic and musical talents
Requirements:
– Formatted and cited in current APA 7
– Use 2 academic sources. Not older than 5 years
– Not Websites are allowed.
– Plagiarism is NOT allowed