THE LIMBIC SYSTEM AND ITS CONNECTIONS:

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS

PAPER PRESENTED BY

DR. A.O. OLAJIDE

MBBS (IB), PGD (STATISTICS), MMP (UNILAG) FMC Psych.
Consultant psychiatrist
neuropsychiatric hospital
aro, abeokuta
2017 REVISION COURSE OF THE
NATIONAL POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF NIGERIA (NPMCN)
PRIMARY CLASS

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

LIMBIC SYSTEM AND ITS CONNECTIONS

STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION
The Limbic system is a complex set of brain structures that lies on both sides
of the
thalamus, under the cerebrum.

Collection of interconnected cortical and sub cortical structures from the

telencephalon, diencephalon and mesencephalon implicated in the aspect of
 emotion,
learning and memory.

Limbic system directly connects the lower and higher brain functions
together.

Limbic system influences emotions the visceral response to those

emotions,
motivation, mood and sensations of pain and pleasure.

Commonly referred to as the Visceral brain or Paleomammalian brain.

Anatomically and physiologically different which may confuse people.

More of a functional than anatomical entity though anatomically, situated on

the
borderline between telecephalon and disencephalon as a ring-shaped band
(Limbic cortex).

Limbic system supports variety of functions such as emotion, behaviour,

motivation , long term memory and olfaction.

Primarily responsible for emotional life and formation of memories.

Figure I Brain Limbic system (see Wikipedia)

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Limbic lobe was first used by Paul Pierre Broca in 1878 19th Century French
Surgeon and anthropologist to delineate the tissues constituting the border
between neo cortex and diencephalon.

NB He called the limbic lobe the seat of the lower faculties which
predominates in the beast. The extra limbic mass (neo cortex) as seat of
superior faculties. Neuroanatomist called it rhinencephalon olfactory.

Limbic system introduced in 1952 by Paul D. Maclean, a Physician and

Neuroscientist.

Paul Kluver and Heinrich Bucy in 1939 demonstrated that bilateral removal
of temporal lobes in monkey leads to hyperorality, decrease in
aggression, reduced threshold to Visual stimuli, in ability to recognize
familiar objects.

James Papez 1937 described anatomical model of emotion called Papez

circuit (hypothalamus, anterior thalamic nuclei, cingulate cortex and
hippocampus).

Limbic system as cortical representation of emotions discovered in 1939 by

Paul Kluver and Heinrich Bucy.

In 1940, Egas Moniz used neurosurgical procedure of prefrontal leucotomy

to treat pathological anxiety and agitation.

Paul D. Mclean 1949, expanded the Papez circuit to include the pre frontal
cortex, septum and amygdala, thus inventing the original version of Limbic
system.

Mc lean elaborated on the concept of Limbic system as the Visceral brain

Presumed source of basic emotions.

Scoville and Milner in 1957 reported that bilateral neurosurgical resection

of the medial temporal lobes including the hippocampus and amygdala
results in severe impairment in memory function.

Paul D. Maclean developed the intriguing theory of the triune brain to

explain its evolution in 3 parts (Limbic system, primitive R-complex brain
and neo cortex).
These components are:

The archipallium or primitive (reptilian) brain comprises the brain

stem structures such as medulla, pons, cerebellum, mesencephalon.
The oldest basal nuclei the globus pallidus and olfactory bulbs for
controlling breathing and motor movement.

The neopallium also know as the superior or rational (new

mammalian) brain comprises of the hemisphere for speech and
reasoning.

The Paleopallium or intermediate (old mammalian brain)

comprising the structures of the Limbic system)
LIMBIC SYSTEM AND ITS CONNECTIONS

Limbic system is broadly divided into three (3) parts:

Limbic cortex/lobe (Rhinencephalon)

Subcortical Limbic nuclei

Associated nuclei

Limbic cortex is the area of transition of telecephalon into

diencephalon which include the following:
Primary olfactory cortex
 Septal cortex
Hypocampal formation
Cingulate (fornicate) gyrus

a. Primary olfactory cortex:

Axons of olfactory tracts terminate here.
Prepyriform cortex/rostral aspect of uncus, parahippocampal gyrus,
anterior perforated space, olfactory tubercle and septal cortex

Septal cortex:
Cortical area just below the knee of corpus callosum/subcallosal
gyrus, closely associated with septum pellucidum and septal nucleu
thus septal region septal cortex + septal pellucidum + septal
 nucleus.
Hypocampal formation constituents
i. Hypocampus
ii. Dendate gyrus
iii. Subiculum transitional cortical area situated between the
hypocampus and parahypocampal gyrus
d. Cingualate (fornicate gyrus)
Bnodmann areas 24, 32
Cortical area over-lying corpus callosum

Note:

The histology of the Limbic cortex (allocortex) differs from that of

neocortex (isocortex).
Allocortex has fewer layers (3 layers) compared to isocortex with six (6)
layers.

Subcortical Limbic nucleus made up of

a. Septal nucleus
b. Amygdala
Septalnc
groupofneuronesunderneaththeseptal cortex.

Constituents:

Medialseptalnc

LateralSeptalnc

Ncaccumbenssepti
 @headofcaudatencandlateralseptalnc

Lateralseptalncandnc.Accumbensreceivea

PowerfulDAinnervationfrommidbrain(MesolimbicDopaminergic
system).

Amygdala
Locatedinthepoleofthetemporallobedividedinto 2nc.Groups:

Corticomedialamygdaloid(CMA)

Basolateralamygdaloid(BLA)

CMAreceivesitsmajorinputfromlateralolf.Stria;

BLAcloselyrelatedtothecortexofthetemporal

Lobe.

AssociatedLimbicnc

Receiveinputsfromcorticalandsubcorticallimbicareashencethey
areincludedinlimbicsystem.

Membersofassociatednc:
1. antnc.ofthalamus
2. ncofmamillarybodyof hypothalamus
3. Habenularnc.ofepithalamus
4. Midbraintegmentum(RF)
5. Interpenduncularnc.

ConnectionsofLS

Connectionswithinthesystem(intrinsiccircuitary)

Inputstothesystem

Outputsfromthesystem
Intrinsiccircuitary

AllpartsoftheLimbicsystemareinterconnected

Mostimportantconnectionisbetweenamygdalaandhippocampus.

Amygdala(striateminalis)Septalregion

supracallosalgyrus(longitudinalstriae)

Dentategyrushippocampus.

Hippocampus(Fornix)Septalregion(diagonalbandofBroca)
amygdala.

Inputsintothesystem

Inputsarereceivedintothesystemfromeverysensorysystem.

OlfactorysystemiscloselyconnectedtotheamygdalaandtheUncusof
thehippocampus

andparahippocampalgyrus.

MostsensorycollateralsreachtheseptalregionviatheMedial
ForebrainBundle(MFB).

(MFB=multineuronalpathwayascendingfrommidbrainthroughthelateral
hypothalamus).
Theneocortexofthetemporallobeisalsoconnectedtothesystem

OutputsfromLS

Originateeitherfromhippocampusoramygdala

Fromhippocmpus:
Hippocampusfornixncofmamillarybody

Frommamillarybody:

Mamillotegmentaltract(VicqdAzyr)AT

MamillotegmentaltractRFofmidbrain

MultineuronalconnectionsotherHypothalamicnc

Tocompletethecircuit:

ATCingulategyrushippocampusthus:

Hippocampus(Fornix)Mamillarybody

ThalamusCingulategyrushippocampus

Thisisthefamousreverberatingcircuitsuggested

byPapezin1937asbasistheforemotionalbehaviour.

Becausethecingulategyrusisconnectedtomost

Neocorticalareasthroughintercortical

connections,thePapezcircuitformthelink

betweentheLimbicsystemandneocortex.

FromAmygdala:
StriaMedullarisHabenularncIP(ofmidbrainvia

fasc.Retrof.Meynett)RF.

Summary

OutputsaresentfromtheLimbicsystemtothe

followingstructuresofthebrain:

(1) TheNeocortex

(2)ThehypothalamusfromheretolowerautonomiccentreandtoHypophysis.

(3)BrainstemRF.Therefore,SensoryinformationfilteredthroughtheLimbic
systemcaninfluenceconsciousvoluntarysensorymotoractivity,autonomic
 andendocrinefunctionsandgenerallevelofarousal.

STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS

Limbic system is set of brain structures that forms the inner border of the
cortex. Its components have fewer layers than the 6 layered
neocortex thus called Allocortex or archicortex.

Limbic system is made up of

The Limbic lobe/cortex Parahippocampal, cingulate

(Rhinencephelon), subcallosal gyrus, hippocampus
dendate gyrus

Deep-lying structures hippocampus, amygdala (subcortical and

associated nuclei).
Mammillary body, habenula, anterior thalamic nuclei, olfactory bulb.
The Limbic system has four (4) major components that form two (2) C-
shaped structures.

The 1st c-shaped is made up of the hippocampus and the fornix while the
2nd c-shaped cingulate and parahippocampal gyri.

In summary, the Limbic system includes many structures in the cerebral pre-
cortex and sub-cortex of the brain.
 HIPPOCAMPUS

hippos - horse
campus - seamonster
Described as seahorse or silkworm structures are bilateral.
Hippocampal formation comprises of hippocampus and related structures
such as subiculum, and dentate gyrus.
has three (3) cell layers of cortex which projects into
the floor of the lateral ventricles.
Inner polymorphic cell layer, middle pyramidal cell layer and outer molecular
layer.
Transition from six (6) cellular layer to three (3) cellular layer occur at the
subiculum located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain.

FUNCTIONS

Processing of poly sensory information

Formation of long term memories

Implicated in maintenance of cognitiveMaps for spatial

navigation

Coverts short memory to long term memory for behavioural

inhibition, memory and space.

DAMAGE
Memory loss: anterograde (inability to form or retain
new memories)
Disorientation.
CAUSES
Hypoxia, starvation, encephalitis, medial temporal lobe
Epilepsy.

Behavioral Inhibition Theory

Justification - animals with hippocampal damage tends to be

hyperactive they often have difficulty learning to inhibit responses that
they have previously been taught.
linked to its role in anxiety.

Memory

Discovered in surgical destruction of the hippocampus (in an attempt to

relieve intractable seizures).
Henry Molaison had severe anterograde and partial retrograde amnesia
outcome - cannot form new episodic memories after his surgery, forget
those just before his surgery, remembers events long term.

Spatial Theory

Championed by Okeefe and Nadel influenced by E.C. Tolmans theories

about cognitive maps.
responsible for spatial coding or localization within the environment.

ANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX

 Anterior cortex supports executive behaviours while posterior cingulate
Pc supports evaluative function area that surround the fold (gyrus) .
part of the cerebrum, grey matter surrounding and directly connected to
the parts of the inner limbic system.

FUNCTION
Conduit for messages to and from the inner limbic system.

C AMYGDALA COMPLEX
Almond-shaped collection of subcortical nuclei that lie in the anterior
pole of each temporal lobe, above the tip of the inferior horn of the
lateral ventricle.

FUNCTION
Explicit memory function responsible for influence on cognitive and
emotional functions.
Face recognition and inpt for making association across stimulus
modalities .
Stimulates the hippocampus to remember details surrounding the
situation.
Help in reward, fear and social functions-mating.
Damage to amygdala results in severe or gross behavioural (emotions,
cognitive and perceptual) abnormalities.
Kluver Bucy syndrome: visual agnosia/psychic blindness (inability to
recognise objects by sights strong oral tendencies.
Loss of fear and aggressiveness
Hypersexual misdirected sexual behaviour
 CAUSES
Meningitis, temporal lobe surgery

D HYPOTHALAMUS

Minor station between the cognitive and the visceral, communicating

with higher structures such as the thalamus and limbic cortex and on the
other hand, with the ascending fibre system from the brainstem and
spinal cord.
Major center for control of autonomic nervous system. A bilateral
structure, bounding the 3rd ventricle on each side, below the thalamus.
It extends posteriorly to the mamillary bodies and anteriorly to the optic
chiasm, contains important nuclei with diverse functions related to the
maintenance of homeostasis such as.
The regulation of sleep, sexual and defensive function.
expression of basic emotional response and behaviour.
regulate body temperature, Controls endocrine system, regulation of
water and food intake
CLINICALRELEVANCEofLS

Electricalstimulationofamygdalaevokesaggressivebehaviour(anger,
rage)inanimalsandappearanceoforalmechanisms(sniffing,licking,biting,
swallowing).HippocampusandamygdalaandotherstructuresintheLSseem
toplaysignificantroleinviolentbehaviour.Awiderangeofclinicalconditions
(explosivepersonalitydisorder,antisocialpersonalityandpathological
intoxications)havebeencorrelatedwithEEGabnormalityintheLS.

Stimulationofhippocampusevokesrespiratoryandcardiovascular
changes,generalisedarousal,sexualresponses(erection)

Stimulationofseptalareacandecreaseaggressioninmonkeys.

Stimulationofcertainlimbicstructurescanbepleasurableforexperimental
 animalshenceexperimentalanimalswithimplantedelectrodescanlearn
quicklyhowtopressleverwhenleverpressingisfollowedbyelectrical
stimulationofpleasurableareasoftheLimbicsystem(selfstimulation).

bilateralablationoftheoralpartsoftemporal lobes(lossofamygdala,
uncus,partsof
hippocampalformationresultsinkluverbucy syndrome(kluver&bucy
1939)characterised by:visualagnosia(inAbilitytorecognise objectby
sight),strongoraltendency,lossoffearandaggressivenesshypersexual
behaviour.

Inhumans,lesionswithintheLimbicsystemresultsindisorderof
memory:Shorttermmemoryisnotconsolidatedintolongtermmemory
Korsakoffssyndrome.

Thepathophysiologicalbasisofthisdisorderishaemorrhageinthemamillary
bodiesand/orotherpartsofthelimbicsystem.

Limbicdementia:

WhendamageisexclusivelytotheLimbicarea,

Gasion&Gilles1973,reportedbehavioural

alterations

Identicaltothoseseeninclassicaldementia

Limbicdementia.

Uncinatefits:

ConstellationofsymptomsseeninTLEarisingfrominvolvementofUncus:
olfactoryaura,involuntarymovements,sensationsofdjvuandjamaisvuare
accompaniedbychangesofbehaviourseeninschizophrenia.

LSandSchizophrenia
LSisparticularlyimplicatedinneuropathologicalstudiesofschizophrenia.

EugenBleulers4Asofschizophrenia:affect,associations,ambivalence&
 autism,refertobrainfunctionsservedinpartbyLimbicsystem.

NeuropathologicalandMRIreportsinpersonswithschizophreniashowed
reducedvolumeofhippocampus,amygdala&parahippocampalgyrus.

StudieshaveassociatedschizophreniaandTLEin7%ofcasesstudied;schizmay
bealatesequelofatemporalepilepticfocus.

LimbicLeucotomy

Forreliefofchronicmentalillnessbyinterruptingconnectionsbetweenfrontal
cortexandthelimbicsystem.

Initialimprovementswerefollowedbygrowingevidenceofincreasingside
effectslikeintellectualimpairment,emotionallability,disinhibition,apathy,
incontinence,obesityandepilepsy.

Ithasbecomeratherunpopularworldwide.

REFERENCE

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UniversityPress;2005.

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th

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