limbic system

American  

noun

Anatomy.

1. a ring of interconnected structures in the midline of the brain around the hypothalamus, involved with emotion and memory and with homeostatic regulatory systems.

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limbic system British  

/ ˈlɪmbɪk /

noun

1. the part of the brain bordering on the corpus callosum: concerned with basic emotion, hunger, and sex

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limbic system Scientific  

/ lĭm′bĭk /

1. A group of interconnected structures of the brain including the hypothalamus, amydala, and hippocampus that are located beneath the cortex, are common to all mammals, and are associated with emotions such as fear and pleasure, memory, motivation, and various autonomic functions.

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Etymology

Origin of limbic system

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

limbic system

The nine-banded armadillo, which depends heavily on smell, has a very large limbic system.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026

It makes sense, as scent is processed by the limbic system, the part of the brain that handles emotion and memory.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2025

Musk broke it down by explaining that procreation used to be guaranteed by "simple limbic system rewards."

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2023

These networks include limbic system structures, such as the amygdala, which are important in our brain’s processing of emotions and stress.

From Scientific American ● Mar. 31, 2023

On the bottom of the cortex is the limbic system, which coordinates memory, sensation, and emotion.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman