The limbic system is a group of linked structures on the medial edge of the cerebrum and diencephalon that deal with emotion, memory and motivation. It includes the hippocampus, amygdala, cingulate and parahippocampal gyri, septal nuclei, mammillary bodies, anterior thalamic nuclei and their connecting tracts. The Papez circuit is one of its best known loops.
| Location | Medial cerebral hemispheres and diencephalon, forming a border around the corpus callosum and brainstem |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Anterior cerebral artery; Posterior cerebral artery; Anterior choroidal artery |
Forms memories, generates emotions and drives, and links them with behaviour and the body's autonomic and hormonal responses.
Limbic dysfunction underlies many memory, mood and behavioural disorders. Autoimmune and paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis cause rapid memory loss, seizures and psychiatric symptoms. Thiamine deficiency damages the mammillary bodies and connected structures, causing Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome.
Inflammation of limbic structures causing subacute memory loss, seizures and psychiatric symptoms.
Severe memory loss with confabulation from thiamine deficiency damaging the mammillary bodies and thalamus.
Seizures arising from limbic structures, often with emotional or memory-related auras.
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