21 Alzheimer s disease affects and damages this area of the brain. The word amygdala comes from a Latin word, which in turn derived from a Greek word. What did it mean? This brain region is frequently connected with autism, and many people with autism spectrum disorder show amygdala abnormalities. almond: mandorla to flight: scappare to outweigh: avere pi peso pea: pisello strong suit: punto forte 48 BODY AND MIND THE LIMBIC SYSTEM Cerebrum Other important parts of the brain make up the limbic Basal system, which is considered ganglia the centre of our emotions, learning, and memory, Thalamus and which is made up of different parts. The pituitary gland The pituitary gland also called master gland because it controls the functions of many other glands is as little as a pea and is located at the base of the brain in a bony cavity just behind the bridge of the nose. It is responsible for the production and release of hormones that control sexual development, favour bone and muscle growth, and react to stress. It is also responsible for our mood and in some types of pituitary disorders it can affect our behaviour creating anxiety, anger, and mental confusion. The hypothalamus The hypothalamus is the master control of the autonomic system. It controls behaviour such as hunger, thirst, sleep, sexual response, body temperature, blood pressure, and emotions. Hypothalamus Pituitary gland Amygdala Hippocampus The hippocampus The hippocampus is located deep in the temporal lobe and has a unique shape, similar to that of a seahorse. There are two hippocampi, one in each side of the brain. It deals with emotions and learning and, more importantly, with the transformation of short-term memories into long-term ones. It is also responsible for memorising the location of objects or people. The amygdala The amygdala is an almond-shaped section of nervous tissue located in the temporal lobe of the brain, just in front of the hippocampus. Just like the latter, it is a paired structure, which means there are two, one in each half of the brain. It is involved in all emotional processes, memory, and emotional learning. It is strictly linked to the parts of the brain that control thought, but also to the more primitive flight-or-fight stress response system, determining how we act in a crisis based on the information it receives. If overstimulated, the amygdala will produce anxiety, which will outweigh the logical parts of the brain and cause panic.