The limbic system of the brain, what it is and how it works

Human higher nervous activity is a complex multifunctional system. A separate stage in it is occupied by the limbic system of the brain. It includes many sections of the midbrain and telencephalon. Its functions are determined by anatomical structures.

The visceral brain is a set of morphofunctional structures of the brain located on the border of the neocortex (new cortex).

The limbic system has a complex anatomical structure.

White matter

It is presented in the form of numerous fibers. They are divided into three groups:

• Projection. This category is represented by bundles of efferent and afferent fibers. Through them, there are connections between the projection centers and the basal, stem and spinal nuclei.
• Associative. These fibers provide connection to the cortical areas within the boundaries of one hemisphere. They are divided into short and long.
• Commissural. These elements connect the cortical zones of the opposite hemispheres. Commissural formations are considered: the corpus callosum, posterior and anterior commissure and commissure of the fornix.

Stimulation of the complex

It has been experimentally proven that during stimulation of certain areas, which include the limbic system, the emotional reactions of animals manifest themselves predominantly in the form of anger (aggression) or fear (flight). Mixed forms are also observed. In this case, the behavior includes defensive reactions. Unlike motivations, the emergence of emotions occurs in response to spontaneous changes in the environment. This reaction fulfills a tactical task. This determines their optionality and transience. Long-term unmotivated changes in emotional behavior can be considered a consequence of an organic disease or occur under the influence of antipsychotics.

• How the system works
• Nerve centers of the cerebral cortex
• The limbic system is more than a formation at the edge of the brain
• Interaction with the neocortex
• Relief of condition
• Surface of the raincoat element
• Functionality of the limbic system
• How is dysfunction of the deep limbic system corrected?
• What functions does the limbic system perform in the human brain?
• Integrative activity

Neocortex

It is quite difficult to understand what this term classifies, its meaning will become clearer if we translate the word from Latin, literally - this is the new cortex. But another interpretation of the term “chosen cortex” is also possible, but it is considered inaccurate. This is a part of the human brain that envelops the entire organ, like a cloak, forming a kind of “cap” that participates in neural processes and performs certain functions.

History of origin

The term has been known for quite some time, but the lack of information has been compensated for relatively recently.

A theory explaining the functionality of the neocortex was developed in Menlo Park. She explained the algorithm of work, and the theory was presented in the form of a computer presentation. This presentation helped to understand how the neocortex functions and was a real breakthrough.

How the system works

The human psyche is a kind of chain based on the principle of a closed circle of functioning structures. The stability of neurons maintains nervous excitation in cells.

LS neurons receive signals from the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, thalamus, subcortical nuclei and from all internal organs. The ring-shaped system of neural connections allows information to be quickly transmitted from one part of the brain to another. The drug controls the electrical activity of the brain and autonomic reactions, and also regulates the metabolic process.

The drug performs a number of vital functions:

• communication activities;
• water-salt metabolism;
• sleep regulation;
• sense of smell;
• intellectual development;
• control of hunger;
• thermoregulation;
• emotions and behavior patterns;
• coordinated work of internal organs.

The functions of the drug do not end with the above. This system is still being carefully studied, and new details are being discovered over and over again.

This system helps the body respond correctly to irritating factors and maintains internal balance. Previously, it was believed that the drug was capable of processing information coming only from the olfactory organs. It has now become known that limbic connections analyze signals from all senses: visual, auditory, sensory, gustatory. In addition, thanks to drugs, a person more easily adapts to society and gets used to rapidly changing circumstances.

History of the system

Descriptions of this part of the brain first appeared in 1952, but they were inaccurate. But as civilization progressed and developed, it was possible to correct the information and obtain an accurate understanding of the system and its functioning.

It was originally said that the main and only function of this part of the brain is to process information. In general, the description is correct, but not accurate. Since it was assumed that a person obtains information by analyzing smells.

Olfactory ability, assessment of the information received and connection with the cerebral cortex - that’s all that the discoverer of the system, P. McLean, managed to establish. He described a number of structures that formed a single whole and were “on the edge,” that is, in close proximity to the cerebral cortex. The location of the nerve structures influenced the name of the system.

Initially, the doctor assumed that several nerve structures connected in the limbic system of the brain, forming dense neural connections. Later we managed to obtain more complete information.

As medicine developed, it was possible to establish that the structure is responsible not only for the sense of smell, but also for memory, both short-term and long-term.

Nerve centers of the cerebral cortex

Areas of the cerebral cortex that have characteristic cytoarchitectonics and nerve connections involved in performing certain functions are nerve centers. Damage to such areas of the cortex manifests itself in the loss of their inherent functions. The nerve centers of the cloak can be divided into projection and associative.

Projection centers of the cerebral cortex are areas that represent the cortical part of the analyzer and have a direct morphofunctional connection through afferent or efferent nerve pathways with neurons of the subcortical centers.

Associative centers are areas of the human cerebral cortex that do not have a direct connection with subcortical formations, but are connected by a temporary two-way connection with projection centers. Associative centers play a primary role in the implementation of higher nervous activity. At present, the dynamic localization of some functions of the cerebral cortex has been clarified quite accurately. Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not projection or associative centers are involved in inter-analyzer integrative brain activity.

Cortical fields are functionally unequal and can be divided into primary, secondary and tertiary.

Primary fields are clearly demarcated areas that correspond to the central parts of the analyzers. The bulk of signals from the sensory organs pass into these fields along specific projection afferent pathways. Primary fields are characterized by strong development of the internal granular plate. Primary fields are associated with the relay nuclei of the thalamus and the nuclei of the geniculate bodies. They have a screen structure and, as a rule, a rigid somatotopic projection, in which individual areas of the periphery are projected into the corresponding areas of the cortex. Damage to the primary fields of the cortex is accompanied by a violation of direct perception and fine differentiation of stimuli.

The secondary fields of the cortex are adjacent to the primary fields. They can be considered as peripheral parts of cortical analyzers. These fields are associated with the association nuclei of the thalamus. When secondary fields are damaged, elementary sensations are preserved, but the ability to more complex perceptions is impaired. Secondary fields do not have clear boundaries, and the somatotopic projection is not expressed in them.

The tertiary fields of the cortex are distinguished by the finest neural structure and the predominance of associative elements. These fields are connected to the posterior nuclei of the thalamus. In the tertiary fields, the most complex interactions of analyzers are carried out, underlying the cognitive process (gnosis), and programs of purposeful actions are formed (praxia).

The cortex provides a perfect organization of animal behavior based on innate and acquired functions during ontogenesis and has the following morphofunctional features:

1. Multilayer arrangement of neurons;
2. Modular principle of organization;
3. Somatotopic localization of receptive systems;
4. Screen display, i.e. distribution of external reception on the plane of the neuronal field of the cortical end of the analyzer;
5. Dependence of the level of activity on the influence of subcortical structures and reticular formation;
6. Availability of representation of all functions of the underlying structures of the central nervous system;
7. Cytoarchitectonic distribution into fields;
8. The presence in specific projection sensory and motor systems of secondary and tertiary fields with associative functions;
9. Availability of specialized associative areas;
10. Dynamic localization of functions, expressed in the possibility of compensation for the functions of lost structures;
11. Overlap of zones of neighboring peripheral receptive fields in the cerebral cortex;
12. Possibility of long-term preservation of traces of irritation;
13. Reciprocal functional relationship between excitatory and inhibitory states;
14. The ability to irradiate (spread) excitation and inhibition;
15. The presence of specific electrical activity.

Important VSD according to the vagotonic type

The limbic system is more than a formation at the edge of the brain

The limbic system occupies an individual place in the complex human nervous system. It consists of a whole complex of systems, the work of which allows life to form and support. In the middle of the last century, the concept of “limbic system” meant certain formations at the edge of the brain. As medicine was studied, the number of entities included in the medicine increased. The limbic system (LS) is a set of nerve connections and their structures located in the mediobasal part of the hemispheres, which regulate emotional behavior, autonomic functions and instinctive reflexes. This part of the brain is also responsible for the sleep and wakefulness phases.

Anatomy

The limbic system consists of the following anatomical structures:

• reticular formation of the midbrain;
• olfactory bulb;
• olfactory tract;
• olfactory triangle;
• anterior perforated substance;
• parahippocampal gyrus;
• dentate gyrus;
• hippocampus;
• amygdala;
• hypothalamus;
• cingulate gyrus;
• mastoid body.

The human limbic system has a closed structure based on ascending and descending pathways. The peculiarities of its structure lie in the stable neural connections that support its functioning and ensure the long-term maintenance of nervous excitation in the cells. Thanks to this, the vicious circle of functioning of its structures is maintained.

The definition of “limbic system” was first proposed by P. McLean in 1952 and at that time consisted of a number of brain formations located “on the edge”. As medicine developed, the number of anatomical structures included in this system expanded. At this stage of research, it includes about 12 brain structures.

The limbic circle of Peipets is the main circular structure of the visceral brain. It passes through the hippocampus, fornix, to the anterior nuclei of the thalamus, from there to the lumbar gyrus, passes through the parahippocampal gyrus and ends in the hippocampus. It plays a significant role in the formation of the emotional sphere and memory.

Interaction with the neocortex

The limbic system and neocortex are tightly and inextricably interconnected with each other and the autonomic nervous system. On this basis, it connects two of the most important activities of the brain - memory and feelings. Typically, the limbic system and emotions are linked together.

However, the limbic system is still discussed in many traditional biology and physiology courses as part of the nervous system. Limbic system structures are involved in many of our emotions and motivations, especially those related to survival. Such emotions include fear, anger, and emotions associated with sexual behavior. The limbic system is also associated with feelings of pleasure that are associated with our survival, such as those experienced from food and sex.

Functions of the limbic system

Certain structures of the limbic system are also involved in memory. Two large structures of the limbic system, and play an important role in memory. The Amygdala is responsible for determining what memories are stored and where the memories are stored. This definition is thought to be based on how much of an emotional response an event causes. The hippocampus sends memories to the appropriate part of the cerebral hemisphere for long-term storage and retrieves them when needed. Damage to this area of ​​the brain can result in an inability to form new memories.

Deprivation of part of the system leads to psychological inertia. The urge leads to psychological hyperactivity. Increased activity of the amygdala activates methods for provoking anger. These methods are regulated by the hippocampus. The system triggers eating behavior and awakens a sense of danger. These behaviors are regulated by both the limbic system and hormones. Hormones are in turn produced by the hypothalamus. This combination significantly influences life through the regulation of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. Its significance is called the visceral brain. Determines the sensory-hormonal activity of the animal. Such activity is practically not subject to brain regulation either in animals, or even less so in humans. This demonstrates the relationship between emotions and the limbic system.

The part of the forebrain known as the "also" is included in the limbic system. The thalamus is involved in sensory perception and regulation of motor functions. It connects areas that are involved in sensory perception and movement with other parts of the brain, and that also play a role in sensation and movement. The hypothalamus is a very small but important component of the diencephalon. It plays an important role in regulating body temperature, and many other vital activities.

An almond-shaped mass of nuclei involved in emotional reactions, hormonal secretions and memory. Myggdala is responsible for the control of fear or the associative learning process through which we learn to fear something. - a fold in the brain associated with sensory input into emotion and the regulation of aggressive behavior. - arches, strips of axons that connect the hippocampus to the hypothalamus. - a tiny noob that acts as a memory indexer - sends memories to the appropriate part of the cerebral hemisphere for long-term storage and retrieves them when needed. - About the size of the pearl, this structure directs many important functions. The hypothalamus is also an important emotional center, controlling molecules that make you feel agitated, angry, or unhappy. - receives sensory information from the olfactory bulb and participates in the identification of odors. is a large, double-lobed mass of gray matter cells that transmit sensory signals in and out. It wakes you up in the morning and gets your adrenaline flowing. . Thus, the limbic system is responsible for controlling various functions in the body.

Limbic system: structure and functions

The visceral brain is the broadest aggregate, which represents a morphofunctional association of systems. They are found in different parts of the brain.

Let's look at the functions and structure of the limbic system in the diagram below.

Connecting with Emotions

The limbic system is responsible for the following activities:

• sensual
• motivational
• vegetative
• endocrine

You can also add instincts here:

• food
• sexual
• defensive

The limbic system is responsible for regulating the wakefulness-sleep process. It develops biological motivations. They predetermine complex chains of effort. These efforts lead to the satisfaction of the above vital needs.

Physiologists define them as the most complex unconditioned reflexes or instinctive behavior. For clarity, we can recall the behavior of a newborn baby when breastfeeding. This is a system of coordinated processes.

As the child grows and develops, his instincts are increasingly influenced by consciousness, which develops as he learns and is raised.

Relief of condition

The prognosis of dysfunction of the limbic complex depends on the severity of the disorder. There is a possibility of complete recovery with minor deviations, but sometimes the disease begins to progress.

Complications arise in the form of:

• persistent increase in blood pressure;
• development of obesity in the final stages;
• the appearance of infertility.

Pathology of the limbic structure is found in the practice of endocrinologists, neurologists, and gynecologists and causes certain difficulties in diagnosis, since the symptoms resemble manifestations of underlying diseases.

With the development of new technologies, in particular MRI, doctors have the opportunity to identify disorders of the hypothalamus or amygdala at the initial stage and begin treatment in a timely manner. For this purpose, antidepressants and other psychological drugs are used, which cannot be used independently.

Important Paranoid and paranoid schizophrenia: features and differences of diseases

To alleviate the mild severity, a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise are recommended. Sport increases blood circulation and nutrition of brain tissue, and therefore improves the functioning of the system. Exercises for the upper body, such as push-ups and arm swings, work effectively. Light relaxing massages are performed to deliver nutrients and oxygen. It is recommended to eat a diet high in animal proteins, fiber and limiting simple carbohydrates to increase the level of neurotransmitter synthesis.

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Operational disruptions

Patients develop amnesia due to changes in the limbic structure, traumatic head injuries, or natural defects. The neural interaction complex is not considered as a place for storing information. The system is designed to combine different parts of memory and reproduce the required moments when necessary.

Disturbances in the functioning of the system do not destroy short or long-term memories, but destroy the logical connection between them and do not make it possible to consciously repeat them. In this version, different pieces of information are stored and guarantee the functioning of procedural memory. Korsakoff's syndrome in psychology allows the patient to fully remember all past events, but patients cannot learn and remember new information.

Hypothalamic syndrome is observed when there is a range of vegetative, endocrine disorders caused by pathological changes in the hypothalamus. At the same time, body weight increases, headaches, and mood swings appear. Progressive changes in the functioning of the organ lead to partial or complete loss of the ability to work, and reproductive health is impaired.

Alcohol contributes to the occurrence of persistent disorders of the thalamus. In this case, memory for recent incidents suffers, for example, the patient cannot remember the dishes for breakfast and does not even have the feeling that he had breakfast. Such people reproduce events from their youth or childhood with extraordinary accuracy.

Studies on monkeys led to the conclusion that after removal of the anterior temporal tonsil, the animals showed hyperactivity, increased emotionality, fearlessness, and put foreign objects into their mouths. The animals did not recognize familiar objects, since part of their limbic complex was removed.

The left amygdala is responsible for social phobia, impulsive activity, determines recovery from traumatic stress, and the removal of excessive anxiety. Enlargement of the organ leads to a borderline disorder of consciousness; patients have difficulty distinguishing emotions on the faces of people around them. Manic and depressive notes in behavior were observed with a decrease in the gland.

Surface of the raincoat element

In each segment, this part of the brain is divided into lobes by deep grooves and fissures. Primary are referred to as permanent formations of the organ. They are formed at the embryonic stage (in the fifth month). The largest fissures include longitudinal (separates the segments) and transverse (separates the cerebellum from the occipital lobes).

Secondary and especially tertiary formations determine the individual relief of the segments (it can be seen in the photo). The human brain develops not only during the prenatal period. For example, secondary and tertiary grooves are formed up to 7-8 years after birth. The relief that the telencephalon has, the location of permanent formations and large convolutions are similar in most people. Each segment has six lobes: limbic, insular, temporal, occipital, parietal and frontal.

The telencephalon in this area includes the Rolandian (central) sulcus. With its help, the parietal and frontal lobes are separated. There is also a Sylvian (lateral) fissure on the surface. Through it, the parietal and frontal lobes are separated from the temporal lobe. A conventional line acts as the anterior-inferior border of the occipital region.

Functionality of the limbic system

This part of the autonomic nervous system, according to doctors, performs many functions. Through experiments, it was possible to prove that disruptions in the functioning of interconnected structures lead to problems with vital organs.

Let us describe in detail the functions of this part of the brain:

• responsible for memory and perception of information, for the ability to learn and cognition;
• regulates the work and analyzes the information received from the olfactory organs;
• participates in organizing simple motivational and informational activities;
• responsible for human socialization, in particular, communication and the emotional component;
• participates in the ability to shape research activities.

It is worth noting that the system is involved in the formation of food and sexual instincts. But this participation is considered indirect, not direct.

What else is the system responsible for, and what functions does it perform:

1. It is believed that neural connections form a link: wakefulness - sleep.
2. Regulates metabolic processes in the body, including water-salt balance.
3. Helps adapt to external stimuli.

It is believed that the structure of the system is such that it allows the brain not only to analyze the information received, but also to perceive commands and issue an adequate response. This allows us to judge the system’s ability to influence the perception and analysis of information received from outside. This means that in cases of change, the system helps a person adapt to environmental factors. This function is called adaptation.

Violations and their consequences

If problems arise in the functioning of the brain, then the disturbances affect the entire body. In most cases, this situation results from:

• development of infectious diseases affecting the nervous system;
• serious poisonings leading to severe intoxication;
• prolonged and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• taking certain medications in case of overdose;
• development of psychological disorders;
• receiving serious head injuries.

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As a result of such unfavorable circumstances, the following changes occur in the body:

Memory problems appear. Often the patient cannot build a logical chain of events or connect them together. At the same time, he has memories, but he finds it difficult to analyze events. Problems with the sense of smell arise, the functioning of the organs of vision and hearing is disrupted. Problems can be local in nature, up to the development of blindness or deafness. A person may complain that he does not feel anything (smell, taste). Violations affect fine motor skills and affect the correction of movements. The emotional component suffers the most. A person’s behavior changes, he begins to show aggression, but more often such people suffer from changes in mood. Having trouble sleeping (perhaps the most common disorder)

Such problems are common, but you will have to pay attention to the presence of other manifestations.

However, other functions of the body can also “suffer”; disturbances affect the functioning of the digestive system and hormonal levels. It is difficult to say what disturbances will appear in the body’s functioning and what they will lead to.

List of possible complications:

• auditory and visual hallucinations, less often taste;
• loss of orientation in space;
• frequent mood swings with the development of depressive states;
• confusion;
• inability to perceive and analyze information;
• development of epileptic seizures (in special cases).

Disturbances can be of a different nature, ranging from problems in the intestines and stomach, ending with disruptions in the immune, cardiovascular and endocrine systems.

Limbic system and Neocortex of the brain - structure and functions

In this article we will talk about the limbic system, the neocortex, their history, origin and main functions.

Limbic system

The limbic system of the brain is a set of complex neuroregulatory structures of the brain.

This system is not limited to just a few functions - it performs a huge number of tasks that are essential for humans.

The purpose of the limbus is the regulation of higher mental functions and special processes of higher nervous activity, ranging from simple charm and wakefulness to cultural emotions, memory and sleep.

History of origin

The limbic system of the brain formed long before the neocortex began to form. This is the oldest hormonal-instinctive structure of the brain, which is responsible for the survival of the subject. Over a long period of evolution, 3 main goals of the system for survival can be formed:

• Dominance is a manifestation of superiority in a variety of ways
• Food - Subject's nutrition
• Reproduction - transferring your genome to the next generation

Because man has animal roots, the human brain has a limbic system. Initially, Homo sapiens possessed only affects that influenced the physiological state of the body. Over time, communication developed using the type of scream (vocalization). Individuals who were able to convey their state through emotions survived.

Over time, the emotional perception of reality was increasingly formed. This evolutionary layering allowed people to unite into groups, groups into tribes, tribes into settlements, and the latter into entire nations. The limbic system was first discovered by American researcher Paul McLean back in 1952.

System structure

Anatomically, the limbus includes areas of the paleocortex (ancient cortex), archicortex (old cortex), part of the neocortex (new cortex) and some subcortical structures (caudate nucleus, amygdala, globus pallidus). The listed names of the various types of bark indicate their formation at the indicated time of evolution.

A lot of specialists in the field of neurobiology have been studying the question of which structures belong to the limbic system. The latter includes many structures:

Cortical structures:

• cingulate gyrus;
• hippocampus;
• ribbon gyrus;
• parahippocampal gyrus;
• dentate gyrus.

Subcortical structures:

• amygdala;
• nuclei of the septum pellucidum;
• mastoid bodies;
• central gray matter of the cerebral aqueduct;
• olfactory bulb, triangle and olfactory tract;
• anterior and medial nuclei of the optic tubercle;
• leash cores;
• midbrain nucleus;
• collector system of pathways that provide connections between the structures of the visceral brain.

In addition, the system is closely related to the reticular formation system (the structure responsible for brain activation and wakefulness). The anatomy of the limbic complex is based on the gradual layering of one part onto another. So, the cingulate gyrus lies on top, and then descending:

• corpus callosum;
• vault;
• mamillary body;
• amygdala;
• hippocampus

A distinctive feature of the visceral brain is its rich connection with other structures, consisting of complex pathways and two-way connections. Such a branched system of branches forms a complex of closed circles, which creates conditions for prolonged circulation of excitation in the limbus.

Functionality of the limbic system

The visceral brain actively receives and processes information from the surrounding world. What is the limbic system responsible for? The limbus is one of those structures that works in real time, allowing the body to effectively adapt to environmental conditions.

The human limbic system in the brain performs the following functions:

• Formation of emotions, feelings and experiences. Through the prism of emotions, a person subjectively evaluates objects and environmental phenomena.
• Memory. This function is carried out by the hippocampus, located in the structure of the limbic system. Mnestic processes are ensured by reverberation processes - a circular movement of excitation in the closed neural circuits of the seahorse.
• Selecting and correcting a model of appropriate behavior.
• Training, retraining, fear and aggression;
• Development of spatial skills.
• Defensive and foraging behavior.
• Expressiveness of speech.
• Acquisition and maintenance of various phobias.
• Function of the olfactory system.
• Reaction of caution, preparation for action.
• Regulation of sexual and social behavior. There is a concept of emotional intelligence - the ability to recognize the emotions of others.

When expressing emotions , a reaction occurs, which manifests itself in the form of: changes in blood pressure, skin temperature, breathing rate, pupil reaction, sweating, reaction of hormonal mechanisms and much more.

Perhaps there is a question among women about how to turn on the limbic system in men. However, the answer is simple: not at all. In all men, the limbus works fully (with the exception of patients).

This is justified by evolutionary processes, when a woman in almost all time periods of history was engaged in raising a child, which includes a deep emotional return, and, consequently, a deep development of the emotional brain.

Unfortunately, men can no longer achieve the development of limbus at the level of women.

The development of the limbic system in an infant largely depends on the type of upbringing and the general attitude towards it. A stern look and a cold smile do not contribute to the development of the limbic complex, unlike a tight hug and a sincere smile.

Interaction with the neocortex

The neocortex and limbic system are tightly connected through many pathways. Thanks to this unification, these two structures form one whole of the human mental sphere: they connect the mental component with the emotional one.

The neocortex acts as a regulator of animal instincts: before committing any action spontaneously caused by emotions, human thought, as a rule, undergoes a series of cultural and moral inspections. In addition to controlling emotions, the neocortex has an auxiliary effect.

The feeling of hunger arises in the depths of the limbic system, and the higher cortical centers that regulate behavior search for food.

The father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, did not ignore such brain structures in his time. The psychologist argued that any neurosis is formed under the yoke of suppression of sexual and aggressive instincts.

Of course, at the time of his work there was no data on the limbus, but the great scientist guessed about similar brain devices.

Thus, the more cultural and moral layers (super ego - neocortex) an individual had, the more his primary animal instincts (id - limbic system) are suppressed.

Violations and their consequences

Based on the fact that the limbic system is responsible for many functions, this very many can be susceptible to various damages. The limbus, like other structures of the brain, can be subject to injury and other harmful factors, which include tumors with hemorrhages.

Syndromes of damage to the limbic system are rich in number, the main ones are:

Dementia is weak-mindedness. The development of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Pick's syndrome is associated with atrophy of the limbic complex systems, and especially in the hippocampus.

Epilepsy . Organic disorders of the hippocampus lead to the development of epilepsy.

Pathological anxiety and phobias. Disturbance in the activity of the amygdala leads to a mediator imbalance, which, in turn, is accompanied by a disorder of emotions, which includes anxiety. A phobia is an irrational fear of a harmless object. In addition, an imbalance of neurotransmitters provokes depression and mania.

Autism . At its core, autism is a deep and serious maladjustment in society. The inability of the limbic system to recognize the emotions of other people leads to serious consequences. The reticular formation (or reticular formation) is a nonspecific formation of the limbic system, responsible for the activation of consciousness. After deep sleep, people wake up thanks to the work of this structure. In cases of its damage, the human brain is subject to various disorders of blackout, including absence and syncope.

Neocortex

The neocortex is a part of the brain found in higher mammals. The rudiments of the neocortex are also observed in lower animals that suck milk, but they do not reach high development. In humans, the isocortex is the lion's part of the general cerebral cortex, having an average thickness of 4 millimeters. The area of ​​the neocortex reaches 220 thousand square meters. mm.

What does it consist of?

The neocortex is a collection of nerve cells that form complex gray matter. Anatomically, there are 4 types of cortex, depending on its location - parietal, occipital, frontal, temporal. Histologically, the cortex consists of six balls of cells:

• Molecular ball;
• external granular;
• pyramidal neurons;
• internal granular;
• ganglion layer;
• multiform cells.

What functions does it perform?

The human neocortex is classified into three functional areas:

• Sensory . This zone is responsible for higher processing of received stimuli from the external environment. So, ice becomes cold when information about the temperature arrives in the parietal region - on the other hand, there is no cold on the finger, but only an electrical impulse.
• Association zone . This area of ​​the cortex is responsible for information communication between the motor cortex and the sensitive one.
• Motor zone . All conscious movements are formed in this part of the brain. In addition to such functions, the neocortex provides higher mental activity: intelligence, speech, memory and behavior.

Conclusion

To summarize, we can highlight the following:

• Thanks to two main, fundamentally different, brain structures, a person has duality of consciousness. Over each action, two different thoughts are formed in the brain: “I want” - limbic system (instinctive behavior). The limbic system occupies 10% of the total brain mass, low energy consumption
• “Should”—neocortex (social behavior). Neocortex occupies up to 80% of total brain mass, high energy consumption and limited metabolic rate

Source: https://sortmozg.com/structure/limbicheskaya-sistema-i-neokorteks-golovnogo-mozga

How is dysfunction of the deep limbic system corrected?

It must be said right away that a single officially approved treatment program for such disorders does not exist today. This is due to the novelty of this area as such, which is why large medical institutes have not yet had time to conduct full-scale research. But certain methods of restoring health for disorders of the limbic system are still actively used today in many developed Western countries

Important Disturbances of consciousness

In particular, institutions such as the Canadian Brain Injury Association, the Canadian Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, the Amen Clinics Inc. and the Institute of Functional Medicine have paid special attention to this issue. According to their rating, the most effective methods in the treatment of disorders of the deep limbic system are:

• cognitive behavioral therapy;
• neurolinguistic programming;
• neurosomatic therapy;
• Gestalt therapy;
• cognitive retention therapy;
• exercises to stimulate the brain;
• physiotherapy (in particular, massage, physical therapy, breathing exercises).
• structural meditation;
• change in diet;
• breathing practices, etc.

At the moment, some medical institutions in the USA and Canada even conduct online seminars with patients and distribute treatment programs in the form of DVDs containing step-by-step instructions for those who are not yet too sick and are able to help themselves.

In Russia, a find for me was the Russian-language website of the Lenny Rossolovsky Institute for the Improvement of Consciousness, which is engaged in the creation of special neuroacoustic programs. By listening to them, it is possible to influence the state of the brain. The site also has free programs and even a recently launched radio. The listening effect is very good and you can listen to it if you have insomnia. Not all programs from the list offered on the site are pleasing to my ears, so this is an acquired taste. For therapeutic purposes, I listened to them all.

Classical music and mantras help restore the functions of the limbic system of the brain

What functions does the limbic system perform in the human brain?

The most multifunctional formations of the limbic system are the hippocampus and amygdala. The physiology of these structures is the most studied.

The amygdala (corpus amigdaloideum) is a subcortical structure of the limbic system, located deep in the temporal lobe of the brain. The neurons of the amygdala of the limbic system of the brain are diverse in function, shape and neurochemical processes in them. The functions of the amygdala of the limbic system of the brain are associated with the provision of defensive behavior, vegetative, motor, emotional reactions, and the motivation of conditioned reflex behavior.

The amygdala reacts with many of its nuclei to visual, auditory, interoceptive, olfactory, and skin irritations, and all these irritations cause a change in the activity of any of the nuclei, i.e. The nuclei of the amygdala are multisensory.

The hippocampus is located deep in the temporal lobes of the brain and is the main structure of the limbic system. It has a peculiar curved shape (the hippocampus means seahorse) and along almost its entire length forms an invagination into the cavity of the lower horn of the lateral ventricle. The hippocampus is actually a fold (gyrus) of the old cortex. The dentate gyrus is fused with it and wraps over it. Numerous connections of the hippocampus with the structures of both the limbic system and other parts of the brain determine its multifunctionality; there is no doubt about its participation in the orientation reflex, alertness reactions, increased attention, in the dynamics of learning, which is more often observed with a high level of emotional stress - fear, aggression, hunger, thirst.

The hypothalamus (hypothalamus) as a structure of the diencephalon, part of the limbic system of the human brain, performs the following functions: organizes emotional, behavioral, homeostatic reactions of the body. The hypothalamus has a large number of nerve connections with the cerebral cortex, subcortical ganglia, thalamus optic, midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata and spinal cord. The organization of afferent and efferent connections of the hypothalamus indicates that it serves as an important integrative center for somatic, autonomic and endocrine functions.

The lateral nuclei of the hypothalamus form bilateral connections with the upper parts of the brainstem, the central gray matter of the midbrain (limbic area of ​​the midbrain), and the limbic system. Sensitive signals from the surface of the body and internal organs enter the hypothalamus along the ascending spinal-bulbo-reticular tract.

The medial nuclei of the hypothalamus have bilateral connections with the lateral ones and, in addition, directly receive a number of signals from other parts of the brain. In the medial region of the hypothalamus there are special neurons that perceive important parameters of blood and cerebrospinal fluid; in other words, these neurons monitor the state of the body's internal environment. They can perceive, for example, blood temperature (“thermal” neurons), the salt composition of the plasma (osmoreceptors) or the content of hormones in the blood. Through neural mechanisms, the medial region of the hypothalamus controls the activity of the neurohypophysis, and through hormonal mechanisms, the adenohypophysis. Thus, this region serves as an intermediate link between the nervous and endocrine systems, representing the “neuroendocrine interface.”

Limbic system of the brain. Series: How to become happy

Goodness and peace to everyone who came to see us.

Since the beginning of this year we have been talking about happiness. Today we will look at how our limbic brain system works, and you will understand why criticism of Putin works very poorly and causes aggression from his supporters.

In the article before last, we came to the conclusion that all the people who left their mark on history unanimously advised us to study ourselves. In the past, it is better to start with an understanding of who and what we are not. Because if we are not something and under a certain development of circumstances it is this “something” that is destroyed, then our brain, trying to protect it, will lead us into a specific negative emotion.

And if this phrase is not clear to you from the last article, then in 10 minutes you will have no questions. And today we will study who we are to our brain. This is how most people living on this planet perceive themselves.

And if you just started reading my blog with this series of articles, and something seems strange to you, don’t be surprised. This is quite normal, because you started with part 7, not part one.

Who is too lazy to read “because there are a lot of letters” here is a link to the video version.

In an article about how to learn to be honest, I wrote that we are our brain, just as we can say that our brain is our life.

When we listen to our favorite music, smell flowers, try new foods, or marvel at how amazing the air bubbles feel on our back when we sit in a hot Jacuzzi on a cold winter day—

where does all this magic happen? That's right, in our brain.

That is, we perceive, feel and interpret everything that happens in our lives thanks to these one and a half kilograms of jelly-like mass consisting of 85 billion neurons, each of which has up to 10,000 synapses, that is, connections with other individual neurons, which just so happens , is the most complex system known to date in our universe.

Neuroscientist David Eagleman of Stanford University says there are more connections between neurons in one square centimeter of brain tissue than there are stars in the entire universe.

And no matter how complex our brain is, it is an organ, and like any organ of our body, it performs a specific function in our body.

And if the function of the stomach is to store and digest food, the function of the lungs is to carry out gas exchange, then the main function of our brain is to ensure our survival and procreation in the environment.

In other words, our brain is our organ for survival. And all the abilities of our brain are geared towards this. From the memory that we need in order to remember where there is water and food, to the cognitive abilities necessary to build a house for ourselves or charm a cute bearer of another brain with our sense of humor, so that we can then make a new toddler together and thereby survive as a species.

There is one particular system of our brain that is especially important for our survival, this is the so-called limbic system. This is a system that scans everything around us to see how dangerous it is for us. When you were walking through the forest and saw a black, twisting stick out of the corner of your eye and jumped away because you thought you saw a snake, that’s your limbic system at work. When you hear that the dollar is growing, and your boss is increasingly saying that there will be layoffs, and you start to get nervous - this is your limbic system at work.

And she works all day, every day. Constantly monitors what we see, hear, feel. Every time something comes into our field of vision, our limbic system seems to ask:

- This is a threat? Oh, some sound is a threat? Oh, there's something else there - maybe it's a threat?

And as you understand, in order to answer this question, she needs an answer to another: “Who exactly am I protecting?”

This is why our brain must have a logical idea of ​​who we are. And we gradually came to an understanding of what “I” is for our brain.

How can the brain receive such information? Figuratively speaking, our brain takes a piece of paper and a pen and says: “so, let us clearly indicate on the map what exactly we are protecting.” And then my limbic system will know how to interpret events. What is dangerous and what is desirable, on the contrary.

And the first thing the brain puts on this map is our body.

Our body is what we see in the mirror, our body is shown when we are noticed. And the brain puts it on the list of things that need to be protected. He knows that our body can “stick our flippers together”, so the body must be protected from the threat, otherwise we will not live to see tomorrow. This is where our fears of spiders, snakes and other creepy animals come from.

This is also what causes our unconscious reactions, such as when we dodge a ball flying towards our head, remove our hand from a hot surface, etc. This is certainly a beneficial service to the limbic system, to say the least.

But do you think the list ends with just the body?

This is the most interesting question. What do you think about it?

The answer is clear - of course not!

The brain adds other things to the map that are not related to the body, which then become things that need protection.

Let's look at a couple of studies that back this up.

Dr. James Coan, director of the Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Virginia, has a very interesting job. As part of an experiment, he unexpectedly shocks people with electric shocks.

In 2013, Dr. Coan conducted a cool experiment: he invited study participants into his laboratory to see what would happen in their brains when they were faced with an impending threat to themselves. He actually wanted to see how holding each other's hands affects these processes.

But he revealed a lot more. And what he discovered came as a surprise. The experiment was set up as follows. The study participant lay in an fMRI machine to observe his brain's reactions in real time. He was given a visual signal that he was about to receive an electric shock to the ankle. There was a short pause between the signal and the potential shock so that the fMRI machine could measure changes in the brain in anticipation of the shock. But participants were not always given electric shocks.

All Dr. Coan really needs is the fear that a shock might be given, and it turns out that you can make people nervous out of fear every time, even if you only actually shock 20% of the time.

So, let's summarize the process: visual signal (warning that there will be an electric shock) - pause - electric shock or no shock.

So what happened in the subjects' brains? After the study participants received the signal that the shock was coming, Dr. Coan said, “their brains lit up like a Christmas tree,” and especially in areas related to emotion (especially fear) and emotion regulation. This is understandable and logical.

Then Dr. Coan changed things up a bit; the researchers brought a stranger into a room, removed the shock electrode from the subject's ankle, and connected it to the stranger's ankle. Thus, in this second scenario, the subject in the MRI scanner did not have the opportunity to receive an electric shock.

This stranger was in danger. So the researchers fired up the MRI machine and watched the new process unfold in the subject's brain.

The signal is a pause, for observation on the brain - an electric shock from a stranger.

This time, they found that areas associated with emotions and self did not light up. Strange or not, the subject’s brain did not worry about the other person at all.

Hence the conclusion: fear and related emotions are generally defined as the reaction we experience when there is a threat to ourselves.

Hitting a stranger's ankle is not part of oneself, so it wasn't much of a surprise to see the subject's brain not light up in response to a threat to something other than myself.

After shocking strangers, doctors replaced them with family members or a close friend of the subject. And then things got really interesting. They placed the electric wire on the ankle of a person who was familiar with the subject and began the same process as before.

Signal - pause - electric shock. So what happened this time? This time something unexpected happened.

It was possible to assume that the brain would react in the same way as when hitting a stranger, because this is a different body.

Instead, the opposite happened. In the moments before potentially electrocuting a loved one, the subject's brain would light up again like a Christmas tree.

In fact, the results of the fMRI scans were so similar when the subject of the study or his loved one was given an electric shock that there was no difference in the scans of his brain.

This suggests that when it comes to the brain, our loved ones are added to the list as a definition of ourselves. Our brain considers them part of itself.

Dr. Coan shared his observations during a TED Talk he gave in 2013. Links to materials:

Link to 1 entry;

Link to 2nd entry;

Link to entry 3 (video).

Should we be surprised by the results of Dr. Coan's experiment? Honestly, no. It's common sense that we have emotional reactions to potential threats to those we care about, and unfortunately, we don't have any emotional reactions to threats against those we don't care about.

But this is a scientific explanation of our human nature - to divide everyone into “we” and “they”. On our own and on others, it is our property that, according to sociologists and historians, has made the world the way we see it now. That which became the cause of all quarrels, repressions and wars.

We knew that our brain is a survival organ that protects ourselves.

But until recently, the question was a mystery to us: why do we have emotions towards other people? So, modern science explains why we have emotional reactions to other people. Because they become part of our sense of self. But how far does this phenomenon go? Do we only attach our family, friends and pets to our sense of self, or can other things become part of our sense of self too?

To answer this question, let's look at a study by business school professor Tiffany Barnett White at the University of Illinois.

Dr. White was curious about how people might react to positive or negative news related to a brand they care about. She found that when people have a strong connection to a particular brand, they react to bad news about that brand in the same way they react to personal failure. In other words, the failure of the brand was perceived in their minds as their own failure.

In addition, brand loyal people tended to discount bad news about the brand, part of what psychology calls the process of self-deception or denial. This allows us to conclude that not only other people are identified by the brain with our Self, but these can also be ideas.

Pay attention to this word - idea.

What is a brand? Is this an idea? This is an idea about a feature, product or service. But here's the idea. This is the idea of ​​the value of the Apple, Google, Mercedes or Louis Vuitton brand in our lives. Without Louis Vuitton, I could easily survive in this world now, but without Google it’s not a fact.

Now it’s clear where the eternal debate about which is better—an iPhone or a Samsung—comes from?

Brands mean more to us than just the name of the company we do business with, and if they become important to us, then the brand itself can become part of our identity.

However, brands are not the only ideas we can become attached to. We mentally become attached to everything and everyone. We become attached to a certain religion and make it part of our sense of self. We become attached to politics and make it part of our sense of self. We become attached to our possessions and make the things we own part of our sense of self.

Our jobs, our life stories, our ethnicity, our opinions about things, our likes and dislikes, our pets, our friends and of course our family all become part of our sense of self.

All of them are added to the map of ourselves by our brain.

But with each added element on this map of yourself, the work for the limbic system increases. She needs to find threats to all the things with which you have allowed your brain to associate yourself, and most importantly, it still needs to be protected.

It is clear that the more things there are on our map, the greater the chances that there will be something in this world that will threaten them. And so we all meet in this world with a different list, but the same brain.

Now it’s clear why ordinary criticism doesn’t help convince people. If a person put Putin on the line for himself, then does he perceive any criticism of him as a threat to himself?

Now is it clear why believers often defend their faith so aggressively?

Is it clear why football fans sometimes even fight for their team?

If someone insults one of your family members, or a friend, or your reputation, or your job, or your opinion about something, your limbic system reacts to this insult by causing a negative emotion in your mind. And a natural desire to protect him.

Now it is clear why our lives become easier every year, each next generation lives better than their parents, but the level of stress, suicide and consumption of antidepressants is increasing. And primitive tribes did not have suicides.

Because every year the world becomes more complex, the list of what needs to be protected increases, and the limbic system of our brain is not adapted for this. Our brains stopped developing as soon as we stopped gathering. And, working at the limit, it fails more and more often.

So today we took the next step towards taking control of our brain.

We studied ourselves a little and figured out who we are to our brain.

We understood how our brain works and that in this area it is our biggest enemy.

This innate system, given to us for survival in the wild world, plays a cruel joke on us, ruins our lives and kills the butterflies in our stomachs.

Look around: most people are controlled by the brain, that is, by emotions, by those ancient instincts designed for survival.

And the task of our blog is to convey information to those who want to put their brains at their service and learn to manage themselves.

And if someone asks: “what is the conclusion from all this, Michael”?

Yes, it’s obvious: there is nothing in this life that can ruin your life. And if you think there is, then it’s in your head. And it is your choice whether to identify with it or not.

Remember Diogenes, who had nothing, but whom thousands of people followed to listen to him. Everyone only knows that he lived in a barrel, but few people understand why the memory of this homeless man has been preserved for more than two thousand years.

And few cases are known when emperors who conquered the entire known world of that time sought meetings with the homeless, just as Alexander the Great sought a meeting with Diogenes to ask what he could do for him.

And according to legend, Diogenes did not even stand in front of the great conqueror, but simply told him to move away because he was blocking the sun.

So, the most important thing is that as long as you are able to breathe and see the sun every day, you have no reason to worry. Everything else is nonsense. Even the president who offers you his services. This is what I realized in my less than forty years and am trying to convey to others.

It was Dr. Michael Swoboda.

Live brightly, friends!