Definition of limbic system
: a group of subcortical structures (such as the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, and the amygdala) of the brain that are concerned especially with emotion and motivation
Examples of limbic system in a Sentence
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The area of the brain at work is the limbic system.
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Thomas Bradley Cox, Forbes, 11 May 2021
Of the senses, smell alone has a direct line to our limbic system, the part of our mind that deals with emotions and memory.
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New York Times, 10 May 2021
Rather, olfactory data heads straight to the limbic system, the oldest part of our brain and the one responsible for memory and emotional processes.
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Noy Thrupkaew, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2021
That nerve, or other cranial nerves, may be the virus’ springboard to the brain’s limbic system, the deep structures where emotions such as fear and anxiety are processed, and from which depression and anxiety disorders may spring.
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Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2021
In a cartoon full of big emotional wallops and tiny pings of heart-stopping narrative specificity, one moment in the new Netflix show City of Ghosts grabbed my limbic system the hardest.
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Adam Rogers, Wired, 18 Mar. 2021
The brain’s key emotional center or limbic system, which includes structures called the amygdala and hippocampus, activates this response through rapid cell firing.
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Elizabeth Landau, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Nov. 2020
The device vibrates gently behind your ears, which the company says activates the part of your brain that regulates emotions (the limbic system).
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Gear Team, Wired, 14 Jan. 2021
In situations with elements of uncertainty, such as a possible but unidentified threat, the limbic system kicks into high gear.
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Elizabeth Landau, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Nov. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'limbic system.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Last Updated
21 May 2021
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“Limbic system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limbic%20system. Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.
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Time Traveler for limbic system
The first known use of limbic system was in 1952
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