PHYSIOLOGY of LIMBIC SYSTEM

BY DR. MUDASSAR ALI ROOMI (MBBS, M. PHIL)

Limbic system: (shown in dark pink)

Limbic = border Definition: limbic system means the entire neuronal circuitry that controls emotional behavior and motivational drives. It consists of a core of cortical and diencephalic structures found on the medial aspect of each hemisphere. It is often referred to as the emotional nervous system Limbic system is connected to the reticular formation of brainstem through the medial forebrain bundle *** Limbic system consists of: Limbic cortex Associated deep structures

Limbic cortex:
Consists of a ring of cortical tissue around the hilus of cerebral hemisphere. Phylogenetically, limbic cortex is the oldest part of the cerebral cortex. It consists of: Orbitofrontal cortex Sub-callosal gyrus Cingulate gyrus Parahippocampal gyrus Uncus

Associated deep structures:

Consist of: Septum area Para-olfactory area Epithalamus Anterior thalamic nuclei Hypothalamus Portion of Basal Ganglia Amygdala Hippocampus

Reward and Punishment Function of the Limbic System

Reward Centers:
1. lateral and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. 2. Centres are also found in the septum, the amygdala, certain areas of the thalamus and basal gangia.

Punishment Centers:
1. central gray area surrounding the aqueduct of Sylvius in the mesencephalon 2. periventricular zones of the hypothalamusand thalamus. 3. some locations in the amygdala and hippocampus.

 Importance of Reward or Punishment in Learning and MemoryHabituation Versus Reinforcement

Functions of Limbic System:

Olfaction Control of emotions & behavior Control of food intake, water intake & body weight Control of sexual functions Involved in recent memory Body temperature regulation Regulation of osmolality

Diseases of the Limbic System

There are several well known diseases that are disorders of the limbic system. A few are:
1.Psychosis 2.Schizophrenia 3.Depression

Diseases of the Limbic System

SCHIZOPHRENIA Cause: An increased dopamine response in the limbic system results in schizophrenia. Symptoms of schizophrenia are: 1.Loss of touch with reality 2.Decreased ability to think and reason 3.Decreased ability to concentrate 4.Decreased memory 5.Regress in child-like behavior 6.Altered mood and impulsive behavior 7.Auditory hallucinations DEPRESSION Cause: Depression is caused by decreased levels of NE and/or serotonin in the limbic system. Symptoms of depression are: 1.Intense sadness and despair 2.Anxiety 3.Loss of ability to concentrate 4.Pessimism 5.Feelings of low self esteem 6.Insomnia or hypersomnia 7.Increased or decreased appetite 8.Changes in body temperature and endocrine gland function

Amygdala:
Has a center for punishment Involved in olfaction (important in animals) Control of behavior & emotion Control of sexual function In monkeys, bilateral destruction of amygdala KLUVER BUCY SYNDROME

Effects of Bilateral Ablation of the Amygdala

The Klver-Bucy Syndrome

Excessive tendency to put objects into mouth (hyperorality) Changes in behavior of animal (psychic blindness) has extreme curiosity about everything Animal becomes tame & placid forgets rapidly Change in dietary habits Herbivorous animal carnivorous Over-sexuality Anterograde amnesia

Features and Functions of hippocampus:

Has a center for punishment Role in control of behavior & emotions On weak electrical stimulation epilepsy-like fit. Probably one of the reasons for this hyperexcitability of the hippocampi is that they have a different type of cortex from that elsewhere in the cerebrum, having only three nerve cell layers in some of its areas instead of the six layers found elsewhere. Fit is accompanied by hallucination (tactile / visual / olfactory / auditory) In some patients of epilepsy, removal of hippocampus gives benefit. It is our memory consolidation centre.**** Bilateral destruction of hippocampus anterograde amnesia (loss of recent memory)

Anterograde amnesia (loss of recent memory)

Patient is not able to learn new events or skills. Even not able to remember names & faces of person, to whom the patient meet. Old memory remains intact. Hippocampus is involved only in recent memory. ***

thalamus
Major part of the diencephalon Medial wall makes the lateral wall of the 3rd ventricle Lateral surface is separated from lentiform nucleus by internal capsule It is divide into 3 parts by a Y-shaped internal medullary lamina: anterior, medial and lateral parts.

Main nuclei in three parts of THALAMUS

1.

Anterior part:
Anterior thalamic nuclei

2.

Medial part:
Dorsomedial nucleus

3.

Lateral part:
Dorsal group:
Lateral dorsal Lateral posterior pulvinar Ventral anterior Ventral lateral Ventral posterior (VPL,VPM)

Ventral group:

VENTRAL POSTROLATERAL (VPL): receives nerve fibers from main sensory tracts through medial and spinal leminisci. *** VENTRAL POSTROMEDDIAL (VPM): Receives fibers from trigeminal and gustatory pathway. ***

Functions of thalamus
1. Main or principal sensory relay station*** 2. Subcortical centre for pain*** 3. Thalamus helps to maintain the level of alertness and consciousness 4. Also involved in the control of motor activity 5. Involved in long-term memory process 6. Involved in sleep mechanism 7. Anterior thalamic nuclei..parts of limibic system*** 8. Centre for sexual sensations.

Thalamic syndrome
Due to degenration of ventral posterior (VPL, VPM) part of the thalamus resulting from thrombosis in a branch of posterior cerebral artery. Anterior and medial nuclei remain intact Features fo thalamic syndrome:
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Loss of all the somatic sensations from C/L side of the body (touch, pain, temperature, proprioception, vibration) Ataxia due to loss of proprioception Astereognosis Spontaneous burning or aching pain (resistant to analgesic drugs) hyperalgesia Amelognosia (illusion that limb is absent)