The limbic system, also calledvisceral brain, rhinencephalon, thymecephalon, contains a whole complex of structures of different parts of the brain: the middle, intermediate, final, which participate in the organization of motivational, visceral and emotional reactions of the body.
The limbic system of the brain has a verya complex structure, it unites such sections of the old cortex, as the hippocampus, limbic and girdle gyrus; sections of the new cortex: frontal, temporal divisions and frontotemporal intermediate zone; subcortical structures: the caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, a shell, a partition, amygdala, hypothalamus, nucleus nonspecific thalamic reticular formation of the midbrain. All subcortical structures are very closely related to the basic structures of the cerebral cortex. The structures of the system are localized, mainly in the cerebral hemispheres.
The limbic system whose functions on the initialthe stage of evolution of the animal world was formed on the basis of olfaction, provides many vital reactions of the organism, such as the orienting, sex and food. The sense of smell not only acted as the main integrating factor, but also united the structures of the brain into a single integrated complex. Therefore, in higher vertebrates, including humans, the structures of the limbic system, constructed on the basis of descending and ascending paths, have a closed functioning system.
The limbic system manages many of the most importantprocesses occurring in the body - regulation of the water-salt balance, maintaining a constant body temperature, as well as behavioral reactions, in particular, food, aimed at obtaining energy and nutrients. It determines the emotional behavior of a person, sexual behavior, sleep and wakefulness, learning and remembering. This system determines and manages the motivation of behavior, ensures the goal-directedness of all actions. As a result, the adaptation of the organism to changes in environmental conditions is constantly improving. And first of all it concerns the changes in the social, social environment, because man is a purely social being.
Also, the limbic system provides anotherthe most important function is a verbal or declarative memory that carries information about any events, available knowledge or acquired skills and experience. In clinical practice, it was found that in cases of impaired function or damage to the limbic structures, patients develop amnesia. But scientists argue that the limbic system is not a repository of information, because fragments of memory are dispersed throughout the associative cortex. A limbic system only functionally unites them and makes them available for reproduction. If limbic structures are disturbed, memory is not erased, its fragments remain and are preserved, but only its conscious reproduction fails. Therefore, almost all people with limbic system damage are able to instantly master many motor skills or perceptual skills, but they can not remember where they could previously learn this.
Violations of the limbic system maycause brain trauma, neuroinfection and intoxication, vascular pathologies, endogenous psychoses and neuroses. Depending on the extent of the lesion or its location, epilepsy convulsions, automatisms, changes in consciousness and mood, derealization and depersonalization, as well as auditory, taste and olfactory hallucinations may occur.
