The Limbic System is a complex set of structures in the brain that includes the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala, and cingulate cortex.

It is largely responsible for how we interpret sensory input (especially our sense of smell); how we code and remember sensory information; and how we emotionally respond to it.

The Limbic System assigns emotional significance to everything we smell, see, hear, feel, and taste.

It monitors both our internal and external environment. The Limbic System is known as the seat of social and emotional intelligence and is the brain’s anxiety “switch”.

The Limbic System is also responsible for the formation of memories and regulating hormones.

It regulates the functioning of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, which means it controls things like pulse, blood pressure, breathing, and arousal in response to emotional circumstances.

The Limbic System mediates all aspects of emotion and motivational functioning such as; the desire for food, feelings of anger, fear, pain, pleasure and sexual desire.

http://dnrsystem.com/limbic_system.html