What is Limbic System?
The limbic system is the emotional center of the brain. It consists of several interconnected structures within the cerebral hemispheres and diencephalon (e.g., the thalamus, hypothalamus, and hippocampus), and plays a key role in emotion, learning, and memory.
Numerous studies have found that components of the limbic system are decreased in size in people with schizophrenia. For example, in one study of twins who were discordant for schizophrenia (one twin had the disorder while the other did not), the hippocampal area of almost every affected twin was smaller than that of the unaffected twin. In addition, some researchers have found that decreases in limbic system volume correlate with the severity of illness.
However, the association between tissue loss and the development of schizophrenia symptoms remains unclear. These abnormalities are not seen in all patients and thus are not diagnostic for schizophrenia.
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