1. The Limbic System

2. The Limbic System
Doughnut-shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
Associated with emotions and drives.

3. The Limbic System The Hippocampus
Curved structure located within each temporal lobe
Responsible for the formation of long-term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects.
“An elephant never forgets”
Elephants are kinda like a
hippopotamus.

4. The Limbic System The Amygdala
Two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system
Linked to emotion
Fear
Aggression

5. The Limbic System The Amygdala
Stimulate the amygdala in one spot, a cat will engage in fight-or-flight activity. Stimulate in a different spot, it will be afraid of just about anything. Amygdala Video

6. The Limbic System The Hypothalamus
Located below (hypo) the thalamus. Directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature). Helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
Linked to emotion and reward.

7. Remembering the Limbic System
ypothalamus A
mygdala T
halamus
Hippo
campus

8. Play Dough Brain
Open your can of playdough. Follow the directions to create the portions of the brain we have been studying. Be careful about mixing colors, other classes will use this same play dough.

9. Step 1:
Brain Stem
Does many things such as helps us to breathe, controls our heart beat and regulates our temperature.
Make a short sausage that has a little bulge in the front (the pons). This is the inner-most piece of the brain.

10. Step 2:
Cerebellum
It is partly responsible for controlling movement and posture (standing, sitting, lying). It may also store some of our rote memories - things that we practice over and over.
There are 2 cerebellums joined together in the middle but we will show them cut open so that you can see the inside. Try to make the pattern inside the cerebellum with a pencil.

11. Step 3:
Hippocampus
This is home to our short-term memory. It is also the brain's librarian, knowing where to find memories.
Make a slug shape then curl it around the top of the brain stem. You can put notches in it with a pencil if you wish.

12. Step 4:
Corpus Collosum
This joins the 2 halves of our brain together, letting the left side communicate with the right.
Make an upside-down smile and place it around the top of the hippocampus.

13. Step 5:
Cerebrum
This is the largest piece. It stores long term memories and makes sense of the information coming from our ears and eyes. It is also responsible for problem solving.
This is the hardest piece to build. Try rolling thin sausages and placing them around the outside of the corpus collosum. Make sure the outside shape is about right.

14. Step 6:
Thalamus
The brain’s relay station or telephone exchange. Most information from the outside world passes through here.
Make a big blob and place it inside the hippocampus. Try not to leave a gap around it.

15. Step 7:
Amygdala
This part controls fear and anger. It tells our bodies how to react in situations where we are scared or angry.
Make a small almond shape and place it in front of the pons, below the hippocampus.