Mr Philip Patrick

1 The limbic system/ mammalian brain can be categorised as various parts of the brain that are accountable for behaviours and actions that an individual displays. The mammalian brain also helps to structure memory and emotions such as pleasure, anger as well as fear. The limbic structure consists of numerous elements including the amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, thalamus, hypothalamus, fornix and olfactory cortex (Alexandrov, 2009).   (1.1)
The Amygdala is mainly concerned with emotion and memory. This part of the limbic system is located deep within the temporal lobes, centre to the hypothalamus and alongside the hippocampus. When a person perceives the world around them, sensory stimuli is fed into the cerebral cortex. This part of the brain is where information is processed. The functions of the amygdala include responses to hormonal secretion, emotion and arousal, as well as the control of autonomic responses associated with fear (Alexandrov, 2009).     (1.1)
The hippocampus controls spatial orientation, navigation and the fusion of new memories. The hippocampus enables the transformation of short term memory into long term memory. Studies have demonstrated that epilepsy patients that had part of their hippocampus destroyed, have trouble recalling new information (Gross, 2010).   (1.1)
Another part of the mammalian brain that is responsible for emotion/mood control is the cingulated Gyrus. The functions for the cingulated gyrus includes emotional responses to pain, regulating aggressive behaviour and the co-ordination of sensory input with emotions. The cingulated gyrus is a ridge infolded in the cerebral cortex found above the corpus callosum (Alexandrov, 2009).   (1.1)

The Thalamus helps with motor regulation aptitude, transmits sensory motions to the cerebral cortex, and collects aural, somatosensory and visual sensory signals. The thalamus functions as an assimilating centre and communication location for data journeying to and from midpoints....