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The Limbic System and the Reticular Formation

The limbic system and reticular formation are networks of neurons that function together even though they are widely separated.

The limbic system is the “emotional brain” made of deep gray matter structures linked together by the fornix.  The fiber tracts have the appearance of oval fibers and looks like the corpus callosum but it’s not the same.  The limbic system also includes certain structures of the diencephalon: the anterior thalamus and hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus in the middle of all this stuff has a direct between fearful stuff, memories and the autonomic nervous system.  It’s a very strong anatomical connection.

Cingulate gyrus is involved with shifting thoughts, expressing emotions through gestures and resolving frustration.

The amygdala (fear and its sympathetic response) and hippocampus (form and retrieve memories) reside very close together.

The Reward Circuit

This is called the reward circuit because when studies were done with rats and were provided with pleasure, they would actually neglect their babies to the point of death.  We are hardwired for fear and pleasure.

The reward circuit includes the prefrontal cortex which includes judgments, habits, and behavior.

Nucleus accumbens (physically deep in the frontal lobe) and Ventral tegmental area (physically part of the midbrain) both release and mediate the neurotransmitter, dopamine, which specifically produces and mediates sensations of pleasure and relaxation.

Because the limbic system output passes through the hypothalamus and reticular formation, it in turn controls visceral responses.  Therefore severe emotional stress can easily lead to visceral disorders.

The Reticular Formation

Runs through the central core of the brainstem with connections throughout cerebral hemispheres. It is made up of ascending and descending fibers. It plays a big role in filtering incoming stimuli to discriminate irrelevant background stimuli. The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is made up of the reticular formation and its widespread connections. It maintains consciousness and alertness and functions during sleep and arousal from sleep.

Use this Table of Contents to go to the next article

Painting by Michael Reedy
The Basics. Start here. This is your Foundation.
  • Intro to human anatomy
  • The building blocks of cells

Epithelial and Connective Tissue

  • Basics of Epithelial Tissue
  • Eight types of Epithelial Tissue
  • Detailed Features of Epithelia
  • Connective Tissue Basics
  • Three Types of Membrane

Skin, Hair, Nails, Sweat Glands

  • Integumentary System Part 1
  • Integumentary System Part 2

The Skeletal System

  • Cartilage and Bones
  • Geography of the Skull
  • Special parts of the skull
  • The Vertebral Column
  • Thoracic Cage, Ribs, Fontanelles

The Muscular System

  • Muscles of the Head
  • Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral Column
  • Muscles of the thorax for breathing and the pelvic floor (The Diaphragm)
  • Muscles of the Abdominal Wall
  • Muscles of the Forearm

YOU ARE HERE AT THE CNS

The Central Nervous System

  • Fundamentals of the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue
  • CNS: Intro to Brain and Ventricles, Medulla Oblongata, Pons, Mid-Brain and Cerebellum
  • Central Nervous System: Spinal Cord
  • The Diencephalon
  • The Cerebral Hemispheres
  • Functional Areas of The Cerebral Cortex
  • Cerebral White Matter and Gray Matter and Basal Ganglia
  • The Limbic System and the Reticular Formation
  • Protection for the Brain: Meninges, CSF, Blood-Brain Barrier
  • Disorders of the Central Nervous System

The Peripheral Nervous System

  • Peripheral Nervous System: Cranial Nerves
  • Peripheral Nervous System: Spinal Nerves and Plexuses
  • Innervation of the skin: Dermatomes

The Autonomic Nervous System

  • The Autonomic Nervous System (Includes sympathetic and parasymphathetic systems)
  • Visceral Sensory Neurons and Referred Pain

Special Senses

  • Chemical Sense: Taste (Gustation)
  • Chemical Sense: Smell (Olfaction)
  • The Eye and Vision

The Cardiovascular System

  • Intro to the Heart
  • Blood Flow of the Heart (Circulation Flow)
  • Myocardium
  • Conducting System of the Heart (Nervous Impulse Flow)
  • The Four Corners of the Heart
  • Layers of the Pericardium, Heart Wall and Spiral Arrangement
  • Function of the Atrioventricular and Semilunar Valves
  • Blood Components, Hemoglobin, Type/Rh Factor, Agglutination
  • Blood Vessels

Specialized Systems

  • The Endocrine System (Pituitary, Thyroid, Pancreas, Adrenal, Gonads, etc)
  • The Lymphatic System (Spleen, Thymus, Lymphatic vessels, nodes etc)
  • The Respiratory System (Lungs, Alveoli, Bronchi, Trachea, Larynx, Nasal cavities, etc)
  • The Immune System
  • The Urinary System: Kidneys
  • The Urinary System: Ureter and Urinary Bladder

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