I would not miss a class by this guy. He is able to explain neurobiology in a way that even I can understand and find stimulating. Is it possible to get a dopamine kick from a biology lesson?
in stanford there are also crappy boring basic classes made by arrogant unbearable assistents... as if the pupils there are stupid analphabets having never heard in their life that there is such a thing "biology"... Sapolsky is leaving and who will replace this great professor?
@@edwigcarol4888 I don't know if I would call him 'great' in his tutoring skills. It bothers me that most of the time, he does not formulate clear sentences, but rather concatenates a stream of thoughts, causing coherency and clarity to suffer. Didn't that bother you ?
@@RolandV3922 i think ure a bit overexaggerating here on the clear sentences and clarity issue. IMO sapolsky's way and his philosophy in teaching is to initiate the attendee's critical thinking and analysis on the given subject. His lectures are meant to be a general schematic explanation in other word, introductory. With how expansive and multifaceted his subject of teaching is its not efficient to even elaborate the specific detail and i doubt the attendee will even remember all of it at the end of the session. This way the attendee has a bigger picture on what is their topic of interest is and are now will most probably have an easier time tackling the subject to explore even more in their own individual time, which is compulsory to begin with.
@@RolandV3922 to what extent is this not understandable? The theme is consistent throughout a lecture and there absolutely is coherence between anecdotes and fact regurgitation. You also have to consider we do not have assignments, additional reading or tutoring from him. We only see this single frame of his total teaching. At the start of each lecture he recaps the previous, to prime the memory to create associations with additional input from the current lecture. Ironically, he talks about this in some of the memory lectures. The purpose of these lectures is to engage meaningfully with people, not to be like a textbook. People are here to be stimulated to lean deeply into the topic. An example of arguably much poorer lecturing, subjectively speaking, is the series regarding general relativity. That instantly put me to sleep. Literally. I listen to those lectures to put me to sleep... and I AM HAVE A DOCTORATE IN QUANTUM FIELD THEORY LOL. I think you do him a great injustice by not understanding how good Sapolsky is at his work and engaging audiences.
I love that I live in an era when a nobody like me in community college can watch the same lectures they're hearing at Stanford for free. I love that everybody who has access to the internet can hear the same lectures they listen to in Harvard and other top schools. It also complicates the matter of who is "educated." They hear the same lectures going to such schools but I guess the difference is in homework and testing.
James Connolly Well, schools like Stanford can afford the best professors and conduct the most pricey research, but I am sure in undergraduate courses people are just as smart as in community colleges or less prestigious universities.
James Connolly OH YEAH! The exams at prestigious schools such as Stanford, MIT or UC Berkeley (I consider UC Berkeley the prestigious school of UCs) have their students take ridiculously difficult exams + they will grade ridiculously. I know this, because I attend UC Berkeley for engineering. It's all the same material, but at the prestigious schools, they will test their students as hard as possible and you'd be surprised, because the curves are not as gracious as they would be compared to the difficulty at other schools, because the students are damn smart.
James Connolly bro your basically paying to go to the "title" of the school. If your rich then you can go to harvard or yale, and also be around rich and powerful friend so the super rich stay in powerful positions and potentially smarter, better morality and better leaders get looked over
+Dave Yen Each of the UCs has different strengths. UCSD for instance has a lot strength in certain areas of biology unavailable at Bk, associated with neurobiology, the wide realm of oceanography, and researchers in fields right next to campus - genetics is one. SC has ecology, SB some of the palaeontology, Davis agricultural engineering, Berk physics and related engineering (along with pseudosciences of "politics", etc which are a subset of psychology), LA some social sciences and others, others. Bias will not help you in your future. A friend was a Caltech engineer, exposed to their superior physics dept and sometimes, instructors. Another accomplished physicist helped me to learn concepts that took me past certain limits commonly taught, before I was 19. Other states have some superior depts in certain biological/ecological sciences. Prospective students should probably focus on their initial desire, and apply at the universities most strongly related to their interest. Berk would not be the proper choice in many depts. I write this in part due to the grave mistakes made by those in the US subject to certain psychological heuristics and biases. There are great universities in countries right next door, and across oceans (the USA is a bit behind in certain disciplines). Grading curves may be a mistake - too like the military schools, they reduce the students through introducing a factoid contest at a point in life where most have no experience in life or their own subject preferences. This test-scoring type is not a valid criterion for evaluation. The beauty of this undergrad course above is in escaping bias, although any college course and instructor anywhere should emphasize this. Community colleges often have a noncompetitive, more developmentally-thinking instructor, and smaller class sizes. As you can extrapolate through the use of varying grad students to lecture in this series, sometimes the 1100-student lectures are not at all as informative or engaging (sometimes grad students are more excited, which helps infect sutdents, though!). I encourage ALL students and even instructors to attend the free lectures (colloquia and the more extensive symposia) given in different depts at any university, as these expose you to what's going on at important levels in other universities' research.
This says so much about my drug addiction that actually makes sense and adds up and he probably doesn’t even know how much he just changed my life. If I had an award to give out this man has it
Thank you Professor and Standford for sharing your lectures with the world so that someone like me who will never get to go to your prestigious school still gets to learn something from you.
@24:06 Parts of the Limbic System @50:00 Amygdala enlarges in people with PTSD (more dendritic processes) @51:00 Hippocampus atrophies and gets smaller in people with long term depression
So people who are stressed out have their threat responses dominating their bodies via the amygdala and hypothalamus and are not learning as much via the hippocampus.
Totally agree. I would not have come across these lectures if I had not been doing Psych 101 in RSA. But the revelation is that Americans have a sense of humour. I had to rewind a couple of times as my own laughter/ limbic system took over. By the way, is humour located in the limbic system?
@@BLUEGENE13 Americans tend to think they are the center of everything and anything. Americans did not invent comedy, Moliere would be laughing at ur comment.
@@b108b i didn't say that, i said they invented stand up comedy, the idea that you can go to a nightclub and tell jokes on stage, is an american idea. I'm not even american, that's just not disputed.
I'm so immensely grateful Stanford are publishing so many lectures for free, and simultaneously Professor Robert Sapolsky. His incredible amount of research coupled with his pedagogic skills are just exceptional!
I just had to laugh at the name of your channel. I know this has nothing to do with the subject matter, but I remember attending an alanon meeting one evening, and someone had a t-shirt with "Whirled Peas" printed on it and showing a depiction of a bowl of whirled peas. It was a pun on "world peace". Thank you for the laugh.
Back around 1978, I developed for my own use a theory, which I successfully put into practice, a method to quit smoking. I had been a smoker for 10 years, 3.5 to 4 packs a day. I quit once through "willpower".. cold turkey. That lasted about two months and then I still wanted badly to smoke, so I figured that this habit had been formed on a deeper level... not a physical addiction, so much as a psychological one. If I still wanted to smoke, where once I had no such desire (prior to developing the habit), then the trick was to re-train myself to NOT want to smoke. I reasoned that when I had re-trained my brain, that I would not smoke again, because I would not WANT to smoke. We do that which we want to and we do not do that which we do not want to do. Simple, right? So, I don't want to make this too long, but basically, I figured out that emotions are the key to motivation, and that I could actually generate emotions for the sole purpose of re-training that level of the brain where habits and preferences (avoidance / attraction) are stored, deep in the subconscious. Well, this is how I saw it, anyway. I had no training in medicine or psychology, but all of this seemed quite plausible to me. I was able to divide my self-identity into two parts.. a conscious administrative self, and a deeper, autonomic?, subconscious self. Emotion seemed to be the way to communicate between these two parts of the brain. Whereas most people seem to identify so strongly with their emotions and likes / dislikes, I understood that these likes / dislikes could be manipulated and formed by the waking, conscious, reasoning and administrative self, by the use of emotions. Theoretically, physical sensations would do the same, but I knew from personal experience that even physical discomfort can be "ignored" or over-ridden. Well, at any rate.. I formulated this theory and began to develop the steps to put it into practice. I could compare it a little bit to acting.. although I have never been involved in acting, but to my understanding, the really great actors can get so deeply involved in their role, that they become that person whom they are trying to portray. This is the second most difficult part, I suppose.. to learn to generate emotions which are unpleasant.. i.e. revulsion and disgust, and the awareness to keep this ball in play almost constantly, until the new habit is formed.. that being to dislike smoking. The first and possibly most difficult part is to become aware that you are NOT a compilation of emotions, likes and dislikes, but that you have a higher self which can make choices, and furthermore actually USE emotions as a way of communicating with the deeper mind.. Now I know that this is the "limbic" brain. And, it really is a matter of "garbage in / garbage out". I could go on, but I think you get the point. And, the good news is that the theory proved out and the method worked. I quit after two months of using this system on a daily basis. I also used positive reinforcement, by the way, but never anything like "will power", nor did I set a date. One day I found that I no longer wanted to smoke cigarettes and so when I reached that point, I simply stopped smoking. Now, that was 50 years ago and I have not had one cigarette since then. I had a few "smoking dreams", which seemed to have the purpose of reinforcing abstinence. I was always so relieved to wake up, realizing that I had not actually smoked a cigarette. Once more thing I have to say.. After I had succeeded, I had such an incredible rush of confidence and self approval. This was the unexpected but awesome reward I was so impressed with, just feeling on top of the world and totally free after feeling "owned" by this destructive and expensive habit for all these long years. And, back then, cigarettes were sixty cents a pack.. can you believe that? LOL
Super big congratulations! I love your process. Have you applied this approach to other improvements in your life? It seems to have universal benefits.
This man is a genius. He conveys his knowledge in such an interesting and clear way that I go into a flow state when I'm watching him. I also love his hilarious dry humor. That's another reason why he keeps me so engaged. The best kind of professor anyone could ask for.
This is so relaxing to listen to in the background while doing chores at home. I hadn't realized how much I learned from this until one friend mentioned the smiling experiment at a dinner and I told everyone how it's linked to the limbic system. Edit: 1 typo.
Another comment from me is it feels like Robert is in complete flow in his lectures this to me shows his absolute passion for his craft in learning and then teaching his knowledge to the world. Amazing.
It's stunning to think that just since this talk, to quote neuroscientists like Andrew Huberman, we've made more advances in neuroscience than in all the preceding centuries put together.
I studied functional neurology a few years ago; not only do these provide good review but also filled in a bunch of holes in my knowledge. One big hole was the limbic system.
@@lunatic_3521 no, I think she meant that it wasn’t covered like this... in a way that makes it fascinating and easier to understand. We went over the limbic system in pre-clinical medicine and I had little idea of it’s importance/wasn’t interested by it until now.
What a privilege it is to be blessed with access to this knowledge and the standard thereof. My sincere thanks to you Robert Sapolsky for making this possible and for democratising knowledge using the tools we have today such as RUclips. I also thank you for the fact that you posted so many of your lectures. I look forward to more of your witty and highly informative lectures. Sincere thanks.
The limbic system is basically the source of most of our problems. Once we learn to tame it, a lot of things will improve for humans individually and as a collective.
I love listening to this dude. Could watch him all day. I feel he's the type of lecturer who's the difference between whether students 'get it' or flunk out.
SO glad that I stumbled upon Limbic system. My family, mother, son and 2 pets, were injured from 6 years in mold spores, with me sustaining tremendous injury. I have to thank you, and Annie Hopper and those who posted their personal stories
What does mold exposure have to do with the limbic system? I was exposed for six years, 8-12 hours per day. It gave me asthma and migraines...not memory deficit nor emotional dysregulation!? All that I needed was an albuterol inhaler and a couple of weeks on Zyrtec and prednisone, and I have been fine for the past 3 years!
I wish this message would get to Robert Sapolsky I want you to know I appreciate you making the videos these 25 lectures I have listened to many of them dozens of times I am a seventh grade dropout now 60 years old I have my own business and I love learning in my 20s I audited classes at a university because I did not get an education I wanted one very much so now I tell you thank you for making these videos. It is a dream come true for me to listen to your lectures and study upon them.
Truly makes a world of difference; as far as experience, retention, and enjoyment . When one is honestly interested in the subject matter of a lecture . It should also be noted that, this Professor has the knack for public speaking, keeping things moving and interesting. You can also tell he is making slight modifications based on the students reactions ie reading the room.
great life... 15 years nobody around, suddenly people show up ya never came close to meet in any activity you ever done...... !!!! everything destroyed mental death
I'm wondering if Stanford is a Harvard. Or, is there really a miraculous gatekeeper determining what goes out for free? Can real agnis of God (Agni?) be brought before the Honor Committee?
Thank you dr Sapolsky. You explain it so easy for everyone, but at the same time all the information is there. Thank you Stanford for allowing us to see this amazings talks.
Robert Sapolsky is the best lecturer I have ever experienced. I mean, WOW! I will use all this information to help improve my work with Dementia patients and neurocognitive exams and also, given my chronic major depression, to give myself a break and accept that it is genuinely in my DNA. Thank you Stanford !
1. Mr Robert you are a wonderful professor! I wish we had that good professors in Greece too! I just wanted to add that “amygdala” for “almond” comes from Greek (αμύγδαλα) and “hippocampus” also derives from Greek (instead of Latin) for “ἱππόκαμπος”, "seahorse" from ἵππος hippos, "horse" and κάμπος kampos, "sea monster")
Also the hippocampus does actually have some similarities in appearance with the seahorse: www.google.gr/search?q=hippocampus&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=HT59zw2FdBEYZM%253A%252CeBYYCMttQ9HpoM%252C_&usg=__aLDG1_qBW3C-Y6-JS04RVnSxfj4%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1x-u-ndDXAhVD46QKHQK8D5AQ9QEIOTAD#imgdii=gbDJOXZBfdlCEM:&imgrc=HT59zw2FdBEYZM:
I spent a month backpacking the greek islands and loved the place and the people were super nice to me.. Especially after i told them i was from England lol
At over 60 years old, why else would I be watching. I try to watch all things Sapolsky and all things Susskind, at least. Though I am often sidetracked by other Stanford videos and video courses. I wish I had continued my education to the Piled -higher & Deeper level as originally planned. But Love got in the way of that and gave me a different though still wonderful life of learning. Now though that has past to a great degree and so with those passions quiescent I return to learning which, it turns out, is my greatest desire and has always been. It is what I describe as fun. Author Richard Bach made the convincing argument that we choose to live human lives for one or both of two reasons, to learn and to have fun. When learning IS fun then one has a most satisfactory life. Time spent away from actively pursuing these two objectives is time wasted unless what one does includes learning and fun as a part. Time spent bickering, outright fighting (physical or verbal), in hours of mindless drudgery which is work in which one finds no pleasure, or in other situations that have no novelty, but are simply rote ritual repetition are but stagnation. At the end of which one feels empty and wasted, stretched thin like “too little butter on too much bread”. At such a realization one is wont to die. Learning and having fun are our higher needs after the basics of Maslow’s Hierarchy. These are what lead to that pinnacle of his pyramid, self-actualization. And self-actualization is to me fully realized when one discovers that there is no self and is left simply with Actualization, or more aptly call “nirvana in this moment”. Other terms one might use are liberation, moksha, awakening, buddha-nature, the unborn, un-manifest, Brahman, Oversoul, Krishna Consciousness, so on and so forth; et cetera, et cetera, et cetera; und so writer; and … So, yes, I watch and listen carefully to these videos for fun. I hope you do, too.
This thing with emotions 01:18 is incredibly important for everyday life. Emotion as the qualia of your body state. Diminish your muscles tones (yoga and co) : you feel less anxious (this is one of the possibilities...). Move your arms, change your face, and this is already a body state hence a hint of emotions... Smile in your mirror 30 sec everyday (buddhism): your chronic emotional state changes for sure..
I appreciate the excellent presentation of knowledge, and the authentic positioning. Clearly Robert Sapolsky is a man to learn from, and has much to say.
What I love the most about this lectures is that I have to stop the video from time to time because there are questions exploding every now and then and cannot concentrate on both things. Here is one of those questions @ 1:12:18 : Assuming hunger of information, whats the thing that the lateral hypothalamus has to messure in order to "hunger" for information? As in the example of the glucose leves with food hunger.
First time I really understood James-Lange-theory, it's like I experienced this process live, so exciting and vivid the old-hippie styled prof explained it.
I am a Colombo - Canadien guy who enjoys this amazing lectures by Robert Sapolsky. His books are equally amazing. It is not what he talks about, it is the way he delivers it.
I love that all of these lectures are so easily available nowadays. Imho, this is the best reason for the Internet to exist... Raising the overall IQ of the populace. So far, I'm enjoying this particular lecture... I'm stunned by all this information about the limbic system. I just thought it 'regulates breathing'. Definitely finding it all fascinating. And surely I can't be the only one who gets stoned and listens to university lectures because I actually enjoy them. ✌️ ~THC
Omg I wish medical school lectures was this fun. This whole info was in 1 or 2 PowerPoint slide page and mentioned like 5 min in lectures. And we are expected to elaborate on his level during the exam 😂 I’m literally watching this video on my “break time”. It’s that entertaining
50:00 Very relevant information about the amygdala if you connect it to anti-social personality disorder...I qoute from a study I read about called Localisation of deformation within the amygdala in individuals with psychopathy; "Individuals with psychopathy showed significant bilateral volume reductions in the amygdala compered with controls". So it seems to be less volume in the anti social amygdala but the volume increases in us who have PTSD.
+Linda I am contacting you today because I am quite certain I have Adult Attachment Disorder ( which some folks claim is another form of PTSD). I am interested in healing whatever said organ is injured, but I really am unsure as to how to get started. If I am barking up the wrong tree ,so to speak, please let me know and I will be on my way. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thank you!
Interestingly, however, there is a case of a woman who had a medical treatment that removed parts of her amygdala (to combat epilepsy, I believe), and this actually promoted hyper-empathy in her. Totally opposite of what you'd normally expect from this notion that amygdala deficiency --> psychopathy, but of course there may be complexities to the specific subregions and connections at play here, not to say studies supporting either of these things are wrong.
@@elsewherehouse attachment injuries impact the child’s developing amygdala and change the way the brain itself develops … so there isn’t one specific thing to pin point within the brain, it would be all of the parts that make up the limbic system
*Abstract* This lecture delves into the intricacies of the limbic system, a complex neural network responsible for processing emotions and influencing behavior. The professor begins by providing a historical overview of the limbic system, tracing its evolution from the olfactory-centered "rhinencephalon" to its current understanding as a multifaceted system integrating various sensory inputs with emotional responses. The lecture then explores the diverse structures within the limbic system, including the amygdala, hippocampus, septum, and prefrontal cortex, highlighting their interconnectedness and their respective roles in fear, anxiety, memory, aggression, and social behavior. The importance of considering ethological factors, such as species-specific behaviors and individual differences in dominance hierarchies, is emphasized when interpreting neural activity and function. Additionally, the lecture examines the bidirectional communication between the brain and body, demonstrating how bodily states can influence emotional experiences through mechanisms like the James-Lange theory of emotion. The influence of hormones like epinephrine and the effects of meditation and biofeedback are discussed as examples of this bidirectional communication. Finally, the lecture concludes by highlighting the limitations of current neuroscientific techniques in fully understanding the complex interplay of factors contributing to emotional experiences and behaviors. *Summary* *Introduction to the Limbic System* * 0:00 - Introduction to the limbic system and its role in emotion, contrasting it with the motor functions of the spinal cord. * 2:49 - The historical evolution of the term "limbic system" from the initial concept of the "rhinencephalon" ("nose-brain") due to its prominence in olfactory-driven animals like rats. * 5:32 - The importance of ethology in understanding the varying roles of the limbic system across different species, as the dominant sensory inputs influencing emotions differ. * 7:52 - Overview of Paul MacLean's triune brain model, with the limbic system positioned between the reptilian brain (hypothalamus and brainstem) and the cortex. * 14:07 - Debunking the myth of the cortex as a purely rational entity, emphasizing the bidirectional influence between the cortex and limbic system in emotional and cognitive processes. *Structures of the Limbic System* * 24:12 - Introduction to the major nuclei of the limbic system: amygdala, hippocampus, septum, mammillary bodies, thalamus, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and the prefrontal cortex (including the anterior cingulate). * 34:16 - Exploring the interconnectedness of these structures, highlighting key pathways such as the amygdalofugal pathway connecting the amygdala and hippocampus, and the fornix connecting the hippocampus and septum. * 37:07 - Discussing the concept of "inefficient wiring" in the brain, reflecting both embryonic development and evolutionary history. *Function of the Limbic System* * 43:24 - Techniques for studying limbic system function: lesion studies, stimulation studies, recording studies, anatomical studies, and biochemical and imaging techniques. * 51:47 - Limitations of these techniques, including the difficulty of distinguishing between centers and fibers of passage, and the challenge of defining "centers" for complex emotional functions. * 55:20 - The importance of ethology in interpreting neural activity, considering species-specific behaviors and individual differences (e.g., dominance hierarchies). *Limbic System Structures and Their Functions* * 1:00:57 - Amygdala: fear, anxiety, aggression, and male sexual motivation. * 1:02:19 - Septum: inhibition of aggression. * 1:03:18 - Hippocampus: learning and memory, turning off the stress response. * 1:04:26 - Mammillary bodies: aspects of maternal behavior. * 1:04:44 - Prefrontal cortex: emotional regulation, impulse control, long-term planning, gratification postponement, empathy, and social intelligence. * 1:06:03 - Ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens: dopamine release, pleasure anticipation, and motivation for reward-seeking behavior. *Bidirectional Communication: Brain and Body* * 1:13:12 - The James-Lange theory of emotion: the body's physiological responses influence emotional experiences. * 1:15:13 - The role of epinephrine in modulating emotional intensity. * 1:18:38 - The effects of benzodiazepines on anxiety and muscle relaxation. * 1:20:10 - The influence of meditation and biofeedback on blood pressure and emotional regulation. * 1:21:42 - The impact of sympathetic arousal on emotional processing and memory retrieval. *Conclusion* * 1:27:11 - Transition to the next phase of the course, focusing on specific behaviors and their underlying neurobiology. * 1:28:12 - Announcement of a break for the midterm exam and a David Attenborough film screening. i summarized the transcript using gemini 1.5 pro Token count 24,934 / 1,048,576
After my brain surgery, i was told that my Amygdala and Hippocampus were areas affected. Where is the switch for Humor? Prior to surgery i seriously did not experience humor. Now, Humor brings me more joy than anything, and it's so fun being alive. Yes, life is daunting, however, HUMOR is the reward for staying healthy in mind, body and soul. Life is full of Trade Offs. None of us gets everything!
Wow Kristin! What a great unfolding of events and your perspective is a strength, I’m sure you know that already though. What type of comedy do you like?
If all teachers were like this I would live. In lecture halls. Isn't it amazing how he never says uh er or pause to think. He has mastered his craft and has the knowledge. Wonderful information. Thanks for showing up today. Im curious as to what algorithm i have entered.
James Connolly, I totally agree with you, and I have worked on building sites for over forty years, who would have ever thought that I would be able to learn about the neural wiring of the Limbic system from such a great lecture, wish I'd done this sort of stuff at school, probably wouldn't be where I am now if I had been able to watch this when in my teens. Thankyou Stanford University and Robert Sapolsky, I'll log in to watch more of these in my spare time.
It's not Odin's curse, nor is it from greek mythology. It's Ondine's Curse based on Ondine, a female water sprite first named in the renaissance. And it wasn't her that was cursed, it was she who cursed her lover for being unfaithful :-)
I adore and admire Robert Sapolsky for his wit, his vigour, his rigour, his ability to lecture, the passion he possesses, trasmits and evokes, for his kindness his caring and his jokes
Muchas gracias por compartir sus clases, soy estudiante de segundo en psicología y no sabia de que trataba el Sistema Limbico,. Me ayudo mucho a comprender el tema. GRACIAS desde México.
Fascinating! So many helpful realities, ie., when I lay in bed each morning, I'm not eager to face the day. However, as soon as I stand, and straighten my Spine, I'm fine! I have been aware of this reality, months. Linking these two factors together gives me the inventive to set my alarm clock daily!
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🎤 Introduction and Background - Robert Sapolsky begins the lecture and introduces the topic of the limbic system in the brain. - Explains the relevance of studying the limbic system in understanding emotions. - Mentions the historical conflict between calling it the "rhinencephalon" or the "limbic system." 02:23 🧠 The Limbic System's Connection with Emotion - Discusses the initial association of the limbic system with olfaction and the "rhinencephalon." - Highlights how different species have their unique emotional processing centers, not just limited to olfaction. - Emphasizes the importance of understanding the limbic system for comprehending emotional experiences. 08:04 🦎 The Triune Brain - Introduces the concept of the "triune brain," with three layers of brain function. - Explains the reptilian part of the brain, associated with automatic, regulatory functions. - Discusses the evolution of different brain regions in various species. 14:38 🧠 The Limbic System's Influence on the Cortex - Emphasizes the interconnectedness between the limbic system and the cortex. - Challenges the idea of a clear separation between emotion and cognition in the brain. - Discusses the bidirectional influence of hormones and emotions on cognitive processes. 18:25 🧩 The Papez Circuit - Introduces the Papez circuit, a complex network of brain regions within the limbic system. - Highlights the central goal of the limbic system: influencing the hypothalamus. - Explains the rule of proximity to the hypothalamus in terms of influence and control. 22:14 🧠 The Limbic System: Introduction to Major Structures and Their Names - Introduction to major structures of the limbic system. - Description of key limbic structures: amygdala, hippocampus, septum, mammillary bodies, thalamus, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and the frontal cortex. - Brief explanation of how the limbic system interacts with the rest of the brain. 26:28 🧠 The Significance of the Frontal Cortex in the Limbic System - Explanation of the importance of the frontal cortex in the limbic system. - Discussion of the functions of the frontal cortex, including emotional regulation, impulse control, long-term planning, and social intelligence. - Mention of the late maturation of the frontal cortex and its role in human behavior. 34:31 🧠 Limbic System Wiring: Major Pathways and Their Significance - Overview of major pathways connecting different limbic structures, including the amygdalofugal pathway, fimbria fornix, medial forebrain bundle, stria terminalis, and mammillothalamic tract. - Insight into how these pathways reflect both embryonic development and evolutionary history. - Demonstrating the importance of direct versus multi-synapse connections within the limbic system. 43:28 🧠 Techniques for studying the brain - Various experimental techniques, including lesions in humans, selective destruction in animals, and electrode stimulation - Strategies for artificially exciting neurons and simulating inputs for understanding brain regions 46:44 🧪 Imaging brain regions - Brain imaging techniques like CAT scans, CT scans, and MRI to visualize brain areas - Measuring metabolic rate and identifying differences in brain region sizes - Showing how experiences can affect the size of brain regions 49:04 🤖 Limitations in brain research - Challenges in distinguishing between brain centers and fiber pathways - The difficulty of defining emotional brain centers due to the complexity of emotions and behaviors - The importance of considering species and individual differences in brain function 51:28 🧠 Function of limbic system structures - The amygdala's role in fear, anxiety, aggression, and male sexual motivation - The septum's inhibitory function in aggression - The hippocampus's involvement in learning, memory, and stress regulation - The mammillary bodies related to maternal behavior - The prefrontal cortex's importance in sexual behavior, aggression, and depression, and the role of the anterior cingulate in depression. 01:05:14 🧠 Limbic System Introduction - The limbic system's role in processing emotional responses. - How the anterior cingulate is activated in response to empathy and pain. - A connection between clinical depression and pathological hypersensitivity to emotional pain. 01:06:10 🎉 The Ventral Tegmental Area and Nucleus Accumbens - The significance of the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens in brain function. - The release of dopamine and its relationship to pleasure and addiction. - How the brain's reward system is more about anticipating pleasure than experiencing it. 01:07:07 🕹️ Dopamine and Pursuit of Pleasure - Dopamine's role in anticipating pleasure and motivating behavior to achieve rewards. - The concept of reward anticipation and the activation of dopamine. - A classic paradigm demonstrating how dopamine drives the pursuit of pleasure. 01:08:33 🧊 Hypothalamus and Its Subareas - Overview of the hypothalamus and its various subareas. - The functions of specific hypothalamic nuclei such as the ventromedial hypothalamus, suprachiasmatic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, and arcuate nucleus. - Gender and sexual orientation differences in hypothalamic subareas. 01:13:19 🔄 The James-Lange Theory of Emotion - Explanation of the James-Lange theory of emotion, where bodily responses influence emotional states. - Examples illustrating how physiological changes affect emotions and cognitive interpretation. - The impact of physiological arousal on relationship dynamics and gender differences. 01:25:18 😃 Body Feedback and Emotional State - The influence of body feedback on emotional states and well-being. - Examples of how physical actions, such as smiling and posture, can affect emotions and self-assessment. - The connection between muscle movements and emotional interpretation. 01:26:41 🔄 Recap and Transition to Specific Behaviors - Recap of the material covered, including the brain's control of hormones and autonomic functions. - Mention of the two halves of the loop between emotions and physiological responses. - Transition to the latter half of the course, focusing on specific behaviors and understanding their neurobiological basis. 01:27:40 🦁 Ethological Approach to Behavior - Discussion of the ethological approach to understanding behavior. - Questions to be addressed, such as the neural mechanisms behind behaviors and the role of sensory stimuli. - The importance of considering hormones and evolutionary context when studying behavior. 01:28:10 📚 Upcoming Review and David Attenborough Movie - Announcement of the upcoming exam and a break from classes on Monday. - Contemplation of a review session and the decision to watch a David Attenborough movie (Life, BBC version) in the absence of class. - Informal closure and reference to visiting Stanford University's website for more information. Made with HARPA AI
Rajan Rangarajan It is something we can be very proud and happy about in the United States where our University level educational system allows so much flexibility in what subjects we wish to pursue. I started out in engineering, but had little confidence that this was what I really wanted, so I took every "elective" class that I could, in psychology, sociology, philosophy, maths (haha... We call it math), physics, chemistry, and found everything so fascinating. My next great decision was to transfer from a university that's focused mostly on engineering (Purdue) to one that was much stronger across many academic disciplines (Michigan), where my quest continued. eventually I found a major that I loved, and it was a perfect fit for me (geology), yet I was still able to graduate in 4 years, eventually going back to graduate school for MS and PhD in the same field. but I never stopped learning as much as I could about every discipline. an active mind always wants to expand its Horizons. I was amazed to discover that much later in life, my IQ had increased 25 points over what it was when I was younger. I'm not sure how really significant IQ is, but this is a true story... and I never thought of myself as being unusually intelligent, and I don't believe I was. I just never stopped exercising my mind, and apparently it kept getting stronger. I was was constantly curious and wanting to learn more about the world. I've just recently started exploring RUclips, and it's absolutely amazing to discover lectures such as this one. I wish that everyone in the world we're more like me, because then I think we would not have narrow-minded conservatives and religious zealots, who deny Science, and drag Humanity downward into ignorance and fear. I'm very distraught that my own country, the United States, has been taken over politically by people who are very ignorant, and who are more interested in making the world the way they want it to be than in discovering the world the way it actually is. Never stop observing and learning, and doing so with humility and respect for others. also, use your knowledge to communicate and try to help educate others.
Kevin Prima ;-) M.S. & PhD, Geology, Penn State! Go Blue [& White]. The entire anti-"elitist" meme has been nurtured by the right-wing Hate & Blame porn industry (Fox, Limbaugh, Trump, and their ilk). The common theme is that the more "victimized" and angry their audience feels, the more power and wealth they amass for themselves. And informed democracy becomes a quaint memory.
Professor Sapolsky...this 5 minute recess to compose one's notes is A BRILLIANT TOOL! Perfect, perfect for learning! I'd also set aside 10 minutes for your students to run 20 laps around the building...watch the focus!
yeah, that's the only issue i have bc it's one run-on and, sometimes, it's too much. a breath in between or normal voice patterns where you can tell where one sentence ends and another begins would benefit me, personally. i get a little overwhelmed by the non-stop talking.
@@djurlivet You can turn on the Closed Captions in your RUclips player. All of the lectures have great CC's attached with them which you can read along with the video to kinda not feel like listening to a non-stop monologue.
Robert Sopolsky much Thanks for this remarkable tutorial this was a truly refreshing crash course on making since of the Limpic system/ the nose brain in its time of studies.
I feel like he's beaming that knowledge into my brain. So eloquent, clear, and easy to follow.
I would not miss a class by this guy. He is able to explain neurobiology in a way that even I can understand and find stimulating. Is it possible to get a dopamine kick from a biology lesson?
The happiness after finishing the lecture is actually because of serotonin.
No one would watch one otherwise :)
@Sara Renteria It's the same person!
Yes, from the first few sessions.
After that, the kick should come beforehand. (Sapolsky:)
No, it is not. You're just experiencing the joys of believing in our lord and savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
This is what you get when you attend a world class university... a brilliant, engaging professor. What a gift. Thank for this.
And normally you wouldn't get even that!
in stanford there are also crappy boring basic classes made by arrogant unbearable assistents... as if the pupils there are stupid analphabets having never heard in their life that there is such a thing "biology"... Sapolsky is leaving and who will replace this great professor?
@@edwigcarol4888 I don't know if I would call him 'great' in his tutoring skills. It bothers me that most of the time, he does not formulate clear sentences, but rather concatenates a stream of thoughts, causing coherency and clarity to suffer. Didn't that bother you ?
@@RolandV3922 i think ure a bit overexaggerating here on the clear sentences and clarity issue. IMO sapolsky's way and his philosophy in teaching is to initiate the attendee's critical thinking and analysis on the given subject. His lectures are meant to be a general schematic explanation in other word, introductory. With how expansive and multifaceted his subject of teaching is its not efficient to even elaborate the specific detail and i doubt the attendee will even remember all of it at the end of the session. This way the attendee has a bigger picture on what is their topic of interest is and are now will most probably have an easier time tackling the subject to explore even more in their own individual time, which is compulsory to begin with.
@@RolandV3922 to what extent is this not understandable?
The theme is consistent throughout a lecture and there absolutely is coherence between anecdotes and fact regurgitation. You also have to consider we do not have assignments, additional reading or tutoring from him. We only see this single frame of his total teaching.
At the start of each lecture he recaps the previous, to prime the memory to create associations with additional input from the current lecture. Ironically, he talks about this in some of the memory lectures.
The purpose of these lectures is to engage meaningfully with people, not to be like a textbook. People are here to be stimulated to lean deeply into the topic. An example of arguably much poorer lecturing, subjectively speaking, is the series regarding general relativity. That instantly put me to sleep. Literally. I listen to those lectures to put me to sleep... and I AM HAVE A DOCTORATE IN QUANTUM FIELD THEORY LOL.
I think you do him a great injustice by not understanding how good Sapolsky is at his work and engaging audiences.
Thank you Stanford for allowing this to reach the public. Thank you Robert for your ability to convey.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you limbic system for keeping me alive
Who on earth would want to miss a lecture with this man?
People knowing not to infect everyone and get digital access?
@@fionafiona1146 bazinga
@@fionafiona1146 This was in 2010 my friend
@@hahabark I think it was past Christmas into 2011 but meant to refer to the algorithm offering it up to wider attention in 2020
Ondine Disease for one :)))
I love that I live in an era when a nobody like me in community college can watch the same lectures they're hearing at Stanford for free. I love that everybody who has access to the internet can hear the same lectures they listen to in Harvard and other top schools. It also complicates the matter of who is "educated." They hear the same lectures going to such schools but I guess the difference is in homework and testing.
James Connolly Well, schools like Stanford can afford the best professors and conduct the most pricey research, but I am sure in undergraduate courses people are just as smart as in community colleges or less prestigious universities.
James Connolly OH YEAH! The exams at prestigious schools such as Stanford, MIT or UC Berkeley (I consider UC Berkeley the prestigious school of UCs) have their students take ridiculously difficult exams + they will grade ridiculously. I know this, because I attend UC Berkeley for engineering. It's all the same material, but at the prestigious schools, they will test their students as hard as possible and you'd be surprised, because the curves are not as gracious as they would be compared to the difficulty at other schools, because the students are damn smart.
James Connolly bro your basically paying to go to the "title" of the school. If your rich then you can go to harvard or yale, and also be around rich and powerful friend so the super rich stay in powerful positions and potentially smarter, better morality and better leaders get looked over
Rob Jomes I agree.
+Dave Yen
Each of the UCs has different strengths.
UCSD for instance has a lot strength in certain areas of biology unavailable at Bk, associated with neurobiology, the wide realm of oceanography, and researchers in fields right next to campus - genetics is one. SC has ecology, SB some of the palaeontology, Davis agricultural engineering, Berk physics and related engineering (along with pseudosciences of "politics", etc which are a subset of psychology), LA some social sciences and others, others. Bias will not help you in your future. A friend was a Caltech engineer, exposed to their superior physics dept and sometimes, instructors. Another accomplished physicist helped me to learn concepts that took me past certain limits commonly taught, before I was 19. Other states have some superior depts in certain biological/ecological sciences.
Prospective students should probably focus on their initial desire, and apply at the universities most strongly related to their interest. Berk would not be the proper choice in many depts.
I write this in part due to the grave mistakes made by those in the US subject to certain psychological heuristics and biases. There are great universities in countries right next door, and across oceans (the USA is a bit behind in certain disciplines).
Grading curves may be a mistake - too like the military schools, they reduce the students through introducing a factoid contest at a point in life where most have no experience in life or their own subject preferences. This test-scoring type is not a valid criterion for evaluation. The beauty of this undergrad course above is in escaping bias, although any college course and instructor anywhere should emphasize this.
Community colleges often have a noncompetitive, more developmentally-thinking instructor, and smaller class sizes. As you can extrapolate through the use of varying grad students to lecture in this series, sometimes the 1100-student lectures are not at all as informative or engaging (sometimes grad students are more excited, which helps infect sutdents, though!).
I encourage ALL students and even instructors to attend the free lectures (colloquia and the more extensive symposia) given in different depts at any university, as these expose you to what's going on at important levels in other universities' research.
This says so much about my drug addiction that actually makes sense and adds up and he probably doesn’t even know how much he just changed my life. If I had an award to give out this man has it
Have a listen to Gabor Mate (sp).
Happy to hear, hope you are well
@@debralucas2224 His book, In the Realm Of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, is outstanding.
@@stephenwalsh3629 I have not read it, but I have no doubt it's as good as you say :)
Hi Beth. Thanks for share your history of life. How do you feel in this moment? You life goes better?
Thank you Professor and Standford for sharing your lectures with the world so that someone like me who will never get to go to your prestigious school still gets to learn something from you.
Yes, I love listening to actual lectures as I am not able to attend university now. I may look into Auditing in the future.
@@JamieHumeCreativehow is that going?
He is probably the best teacher I've ever had. And I am technically not even in his class but just viewing thanks to RUclips..
@24:06 Parts of the Limbic System
@50:00 Amygdala enlarges in people with PTSD (more dendritic processes)
@51:00 Hippocampus atrophies and gets smaller in people with long term depression
Thanks
So people who are stressed out have their threat responses dominating their bodies via the amygdala and hypothalamus and are not learning as much via the hippocampus.
I've never been more thankful for invention of the internet!
Watching these lectures for free is just crazy, it feels like stealing... They're sooo good!
The price is for the degree not the information. The information can be found at a library- the diploma can't.
@@zachariahsmith8757 yeah... and lectures form part of the cost of a degree
@@kmz4948 that's fair 👌
He has great comedic timing. It’s very subtle.
Totally agree. I would not have come across these lectures if I had not been doing Psych 101 in RSA. But the revelation is that Americans have a sense of humour. I had to rewind a couple of times as my own laughter/ limbic system took over. By the way, is humour located in the limbic system?
What do you mean the revelation is Americans have a sense of humor lol? They invented stand up comedy and are the center of like almost all comedy
@@BLUEGENE13 Americans tend to think they are the center of everything and anything. Americans did not invent comedy, Moliere would be laughing at ur comment.
@@b108b i didn't say that, i said they invented stand up comedy, the idea that you can go to a nightclub and tell jokes on stage, is an american idea. I'm not even american, that's just not disputed.
@@b108b to even think for a second i was claiming americans invented humor is in fucking sane, are you stupid?
my brain floods with hope whenever he sais "you're going to hear a lot more about this in future lectures"
The Limbic system is strong with this one.
I'm so immensely grateful Stanford are publishing so many lectures for free, and simultaneously Professor Robert Sapolsky. His incredible amount of research coupled with his pedagogic skills are just exceptional!
I have found these videos supremely useful for understanding my own biology and, inexplicably has helped me handle stressful situations better.
Mee too this man has made me exited for the biology .
Douchebags the world around say "know your enemy." If stress is an enemy understanding what it is can be a big help.
I just had to laugh at the name of your channel. I know this has nothing to do with the subject matter, but I remember attending an alanon meeting one evening, and someone had a t-shirt with "Whirled Peas" printed on it and showing a depiction of a bowl of whirled peas. It was a pun on "world peace".
Thank you for the laugh.
"in the meantime, I will pantomime "bladder problem" " Please get this man a medal or something, he was so born for this, these videos are delightful.
This Prof is my hero - fantastic!! - Thank you Stanford for making these lectures available for the general public !!!!!!!!!
Back around 1978, I developed for my own use a theory, which I successfully put into practice, a method to quit smoking. I had been a smoker for 10 years, 3.5 to 4 packs a day. I quit once through "willpower".. cold turkey. That lasted about two months and then I still wanted badly to smoke, so I figured that this habit had been formed on a deeper level... not a physical addiction, so much as a psychological one. If I still wanted to smoke, where once I had no such desire (prior to developing the habit), then the trick was to re-train myself to NOT want to smoke. I reasoned that when I had re-trained my brain, that I would not smoke again, because I would not WANT to smoke. We do that which we want to and we do not do that which we do not want to do. Simple, right? So, I don't want to make this too long, but basically, I figured out that emotions are the key to motivation, and that I could actually generate emotions for the sole purpose of re-training that level of the brain where habits and preferences (avoidance / attraction) are stored, deep in the subconscious. Well, this is how I saw it, anyway. I had no training in medicine or psychology, but all of this seemed quite plausible to me. I was able to divide my self-identity into two parts.. a conscious administrative self, and a deeper, autonomic?, subconscious self. Emotion seemed to be the way to communicate between these two parts of the brain. Whereas most people seem to identify so strongly with their emotions and likes / dislikes, I understood that these likes / dislikes could be manipulated and formed by the waking, conscious, reasoning and administrative self, by the use of emotions. Theoretically, physical sensations would do the same, but I knew from personal experience that even physical discomfort can be "ignored" or over-ridden. Well, at any rate.. I formulated this theory and began to develop the steps to put it into practice. I could compare it a little bit to acting.. although I have never been involved in acting, but to my understanding, the really great actors can get so deeply involved in their role, that they become that person whom they are trying to portray. This is the second most difficult part, I suppose.. to learn to generate emotions which are unpleasant.. i.e. revulsion and disgust, and the awareness to keep this ball in play almost constantly, until the new habit is formed.. that being to dislike smoking. The first and possibly most difficult part is to become aware that you are NOT a compilation of emotions, likes and dislikes, but that you have a higher self which can make choices, and furthermore actually USE emotions as a way of communicating with the deeper mind.. Now I know that this is the "limbic" brain. And, it really is a matter of "garbage in / garbage out". I could go on, but I think you get the point. And, the good news is that the theory proved out and the method worked. I quit after two months of using this system on a daily basis. I also used positive reinforcement, by the way, but never anything like "will power", nor did I set a date. One day I found that I no longer wanted to smoke cigarettes and so when I reached that point, I simply stopped smoking. Now, that was 50 years ago and I have not had one cigarette since then. I had a few "smoking dreams", which seemed to have the purpose of reinforcing abstinence. I was always so relieved to wake up, realizing that I had not actually smoked a cigarette.
Once more thing I have to say.. After I had succeeded, I had such an incredible rush of confidence and self approval. This was the unexpected but awesome reward I was so impressed with, just feeling on top of the world and totally free after feeling "owned" by this destructive and expensive habit for all these long years. And, back then, cigarettes were sixty cents a pack.. can you believe that? LOL
Thank you for such expressive description of your personal experience. Bless YOU!
AAAAAAAAAAA that is SO COOL......I’m gonna try using this power, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
tldr
Super big congratulations! I love your process. Have you applied this approach to other improvements in your life? It seems to have universal benefits.
Awesome, you should make a video telling this story
This man is a genius. He conveys his knowledge in such an interesting and clear way that I go into a flow state when I'm watching him. I also love his hilarious dry humor. That's another reason why he keeps me so engaged. The best kind of professor anyone could ask for.
This is so relaxing to listen to in the background while doing chores at home. I hadn't realized how much I learned from this until one friend mentioned the smiling experiment at a dinner and I told everyone how it's linked to the limbic system.
Edit: 1 typo.
Out of the 25 lectures I would say I find this most interesting and have listened to it three times and will probably listen to it again.
Anybody watching for fun? =D
Yes.. I play ps4 on mute while listening to science stuff all the time ! I never even finished school.. Long live the internet !
I love Sapolsky. I even bought his books and read them for fun :-)
not for fun but to understand i have a g.e.d. but have studied science for 20 years on my own
I watch them for fun. I wish they would release an updated course so I could see what they've learned since 2011.
Yep. This stuff is incredibly fascinating to me.
Another comment from me is it feels like Robert is in complete flow in his lectures this to me shows his absolute passion for his craft in learning and then teaching his knowledge to the world. Amazing.
It's stunning to think that just since this talk, to quote neuroscientists like Andrew Huberman, we've made more advances in neuroscience than in all the preceding centuries put together.
Such a pleasure to listen an erudite to speak about his art. Masterful speech. Go Stanford.!.
I studied functional neurology a few years ago; not only do these provide good review but also filled in a bunch of holes in my knowledge. One big hole was the limbic system.
you studied the neurology and didnt cover the limbic system?
@@lunatic_3521 no, I think she meant that it wasn’t covered like this... in a way that makes it fascinating and easier to understand. We went over the limbic system in pre-clinical medicine and I had little idea of it’s importance/wasn’t interested by it until now.
Dr. Sapolski is an incredibly gifted, knowledgeable teacher about the brain and neurology. I usually listen to his lectures twice to grasp everything.
What a privilege it is to be blessed with access to this knowledge and the standard thereof. My sincere thanks to you Robert Sapolsky for making this possible and for democratising knowledge using the tools we have today such as RUclips. I also thank you for the fact that you posted so many of your lectures. I look forward to more of your witty and highly informative lectures. Sincere thanks.
The limbic system is basically the source of most of our problems. Once we learn to tame it, a lot of things will improve for humans individually and as a collective.
Im listening to this to see if the polyvagal theory is referred to or how it is relevant.
The Borg collective! Haha
I love listening to this dude. Could watch him all day. I feel he's the type of lecturer who's the difference between whether students 'get it' or flunk out.
Solid rockstar delivery, excellent lecture.
helpm
SO glad that I stumbled upon Limbic system. My family, mother, son and 2 pets, were injured from 6 years in mold spores, with me sustaining tremendous injury. I have to thank you, and Annie Hopper and those who posted their personal stories
Did dnrs help reduce your reactivity to mold?
I'm doing the DNRS program too due to mold exposure. Thank you Annie Hopper!
What does mold exposure have to do with the limbic system?
I was exposed for six years, 8-12 hours per day. It gave me asthma and migraines...not memory deficit nor emotional dysregulation!?
All that I needed was an albuterol inhaler and a couple of weeks on Zyrtec and prednisone, and I have been fine for the past 3 years!
Just curious...
I wish this message would get to Robert Sapolsky
I want you to know I appreciate you making the videos these 25 lectures I have listened to many of them dozens of times I am a seventh grade dropout now 60 years old I have my own business and I love learning in my 20s I audited classes at a university because I did not get an education I wanted one very much so now I tell you thank you for making these videos. It is a dream come true for me to listen to your lectures and study upon them.
I love listening to lectures while crocheting. His lecture is very fluid and easy to follow. Thanks for uploading this brilliant video.
Truly makes a world of difference; as far as experience, retention, and enjoyment . When one is honestly interested in the subject matter of a lecture .
It should also be noted that, this Professor has the knack for public speaking, keeping things moving and interesting. You can also tell he is making slight modifications based on the students reactions ie reading the room.
Plz, more prof. sapolski lecture, upload! i envy those stanford univ students who have opportunity to learn this amazing subject!!
You can now learn what Standford students know too, Via internet, via youtube. "Look at Jungin Yang, learning all this Standford stuff." ;)
great life... 15 years nobody around, suddenly people show up ya never came close to meet in any activity you ever done...... !!!! everything destroyed mental death
I'm wondering if Stanford is a Harvard. Or, is there really a miraculous gatekeeper determining what goes out for free? Can real agnis of God (Agni?) be brought before the Honor Committee?
I’m just a carpenter, I listen to these all day long while I work.
"Just a carpenter "? Just a working class hero. It's all I can do to get out of bed.
The world needs good carpenters 👍
No such thing as ‘just a carpenter’. Your choice of work is highly valued. :)
@@prairiesun100Plato would disagree
Thank you dr Sapolsky. You explain it so easy for everyone, but at the same time all the information is there.
Thank you Stanford for allowing us to see this amazings talks.
Robert Sapolsky is the best lecturer I have ever experienced. I mean, WOW! I will use all this information to help improve my work with Dementia patients and neurocognitive exams and also, given my chronic major depression, to give myself a break and accept that it is genuinely in my DNA. Thank you Stanford !
1. Mr Robert you are a wonderful professor! I wish we had that good professors in Greece too! I just wanted to add that “amygdala” for “almond” comes from Greek (αμύγδαλα) and “hippocampus” also derives from Greek (instead of Latin) for “ἱππόκαμπος”, "seahorse" from ἵππος hippos, "horse" and κάμπος kampos, "sea monster")
Also the hippocampus does actually have some similarities in appearance with the seahorse: www.google.gr/search?q=hippocampus&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=HT59zw2FdBEYZM%253A%252CeBYYCMttQ9HpoM%252C_&usg=__aLDG1_qBW3C-Y6-JS04RVnSxfj4%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1x-u-ndDXAhVD46QKHQK8D5AQ9QEIOTAD#imgdii=gbDJOXZBfdlCEM:&imgrc=HT59zw2FdBEYZM:
Hi Achilleas, is there a book on Medical Terminology, Greek into English and vice versa? By the way, Amygdala also comes from Latin amygdalum.
I spent a month backpacking the greek islands and loved the place and the people were super nice to me.. Especially after i told them i was from England lol
Achilleas Laskaratos n
Achilleas Laskaratos iv
At over 60 years old, why else would I be watching. I try to watch all things Sapolsky and all things Susskind, at least. Though I am often sidetracked by other Stanford videos and video courses.
I wish I had continued my education to the Piled -higher & Deeper level as originally planned. But Love got in the way of that and gave me a different though still wonderful life of learning. Now though that has past to a great degree and so with those passions quiescent I return to learning which, it turns out, is my greatest desire and has always been. It is what I describe as fun.
Author Richard Bach made the convincing argument that we choose to live human lives for one or both of two reasons, to learn and to have fun. When learning IS fun then one has a most satisfactory life. Time spent away from actively pursuing these two objectives is time wasted unless what one does includes learning and fun as a part. Time spent bickering, outright fighting (physical or verbal), in hours of mindless drudgery which is work in which one finds no pleasure, or in other situations that have no novelty, but are simply rote ritual repetition are but stagnation. At the end of which one feels empty and wasted, stretched thin like “too little butter on too much bread”. At such a realization one is wont to die.
Learning and having fun are our higher needs after the basics of Maslow’s Hierarchy. These are what lead to that pinnacle of his pyramid, self-actualization. And self-actualization is to me fully realized when one discovers that there is no self and is left simply with Actualization, or more aptly call “nirvana in this moment”. Other terms one might use are liberation, moksha, awakening, buddha-nature, the unborn, un-manifest, Brahman, Oversoul, Krishna Consciousness, so on and so forth; et cetera, et cetera, et cetera; und so writer; and …
So, yes, I watch and listen carefully to these videos for fun. I hope you do, too.
The part about muscle state feedback influencing your emotional state finally made me understand why I feel so relaxed when taking pain killers.
great teacher clear + humorous
1:55 [NOISE OF HELPLESSNESS]
26:50 In fact, hippocampus does look like a seahorse if you look at it on a transverse plane, which is usually the case with MIR images.
This thing with emotions 01:18 is incredibly important for everyday life. Emotion as the qualia of your body state. Diminish your muscles tones (yoga and co) : you feel less anxious (this is one of the possibilities...). Move your arms, change your face, and this is already a body state hence a hint of emotions... Smile in your mirror 30 sec everyday (buddhism): your chronic emotional state changes for sure..
I am gobsmacked about this man's intelligence and his way of teaching these things. How can one person be this knowledgable?!?
I appreciate the excellent presentation of knowledge, and the authentic positioning. Clearly Robert Sapolsky is a man to learn from, and has much to say.
What I love the most about this lectures is that I have to stop the video from time to time because there are questions exploding every now and then and cannot concentrate on both things. Here is one of those questions @ 1:12:18 : Assuming hunger of information, whats the thing that the lateral hypothalamus has to messure in order to "hunger" for information? As in the example of the glucose leves with food hunger.
Prof ..you are the best lecturer i have had the pleasure of listening to...such knowledge and diction.
This man has to be the best lecturer who has ever lectured.
First time I really understood James-Lange-theory, it's like I experienced this process live, so exciting and vivid the old-hippie styled prof explained it.
I am a Colombo - Canadien guy who enjoys this amazing lectures by Robert Sapolsky. His books are equally amazing. It is not what he talks about, it is the way he delivers it.
Your amazing doc. I could, and often do, watch your classes all day. Thanks Google, Stanford and of course, Robert Sapolsky.
I love that all of these lectures are so easily available nowadays. Imho, this is the best reason for the Internet to exist... Raising the overall IQ of the populace. So far, I'm enjoying this particular lecture... I'm stunned by all this information about the limbic system. I just thought it 'regulates breathing'. Definitely finding it all fascinating. And surely I can't be the only one who gets stoned and listens to university lectures because I actually enjoy them. ✌️ ~THC
Omg I wish medical school lectures was this fun. This whole info was in 1 or 2 PowerPoint slide page and mentioned like 5 min in lectures. And we are expected to elaborate on his level during the exam 😂 I’m literally watching this video on my “break time”. It’s that entertaining
Thanks for making this material freely available!
50:00 Very relevant information about the amygdala if you connect it to anti-social personality disorder...I qoute from a study I read about called Localisation of deformation within the amygdala in individuals with psychopathy; "Individuals with psychopathy showed significant bilateral volume reductions in the amygdala compered with controls". So it seems to be less volume in the anti social amygdala but the volume increases in us who have PTSD.
+Linda I am contacting you today because I am quite certain I have Adult Attachment Disorder ( which some folks claim is another form of PTSD). I am interested in healing whatever said organ is injured, but I really am unsure as to how to get started. If I am barking up the wrong tree ,so to speak, please let me know and I will be on my way. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thank you!
Interestingly, however, there is a case of a woman who had a medical treatment that removed parts of her amygdala (to combat epilepsy, I believe), and this actually promoted hyper-empathy in her. Totally opposite of what you'd normally expect from this notion that amygdala deficiency --> psychopathy, but of course there may be complexities to the specific subregions and connections at play here, not to say studies supporting either of these things are wrong.
I am sorry to hear that. Have you tried therapy of some sort? I have PTSD my self.
@@elsewherehouse attachment injuries impact the child’s developing amygdala and change the way the brain itself develops … so there isn’t one specific thing to pin point within the brain, it would be all of the parts that make up the limbic system
*Abstract*
This lecture delves into the intricacies of the limbic system, a complex neural network responsible for processing emotions and influencing behavior. The professor begins by providing a historical overview of the limbic system, tracing its evolution from the olfactory-centered "rhinencephalon" to its current understanding as a multifaceted system integrating various sensory inputs with emotional responses. The lecture then explores the diverse structures within the limbic system, including the amygdala, hippocampus, septum, and prefrontal cortex, highlighting their interconnectedness and their respective roles in fear, anxiety, memory, aggression, and social behavior. The importance of considering ethological factors, such as species-specific behaviors and individual differences in dominance hierarchies, is emphasized when interpreting neural activity and function. Additionally, the lecture examines the bidirectional communication between the brain and body, demonstrating how bodily states can influence emotional experiences through mechanisms like the James-Lange theory of emotion. The influence of hormones like epinephrine and the effects of meditation and biofeedback are discussed as examples of this bidirectional communication. Finally, the lecture concludes by highlighting the limitations of current neuroscientific techniques in fully understanding the complex interplay of factors contributing to emotional experiences and behaviors.
*Summary*
*Introduction to the Limbic System*
* 0:00 - Introduction to the limbic system and its role in emotion, contrasting it with the motor functions of the spinal cord.
* 2:49 - The historical evolution of the term "limbic system" from the initial concept of the "rhinencephalon" ("nose-brain") due to its prominence in olfactory-driven animals like rats.
* 5:32 - The importance of ethology in understanding the varying roles of the limbic system across different species, as the dominant sensory inputs influencing emotions differ.
* 7:52 - Overview of Paul MacLean's triune brain model, with the limbic system positioned between the reptilian brain (hypothalamus and brainstem) and the cortex.
* 14:07 - Debunking the myth of the cortex as a purely rational entity, emphasizing the bidirectional influence between the cortex and limbic system in emotional and cognitive processes.
*Structures of the Limbic System*
* 24:12 - Introduction to the major nuclei of the limbic system: amygdala, hippocampus, septum, mammillary bodies, thalamus, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and the prefrontal cortex (including the anterior cingulate).
* 34:16 - Exploring the interconnectedness of these structures, highlighting key pathways such as the amygdalofugal pathway connecting the amygdala and hippocampus, and the fornix connecting the hippocampus and septum.
* 37:07 - Discussing the concept of "inefficient wiring" in the brain, reflecting both embryonic development and evolutionary history.
*Function of the Limbic System*
* 43:24 - Techniques for studying limbic system function: lesion studies, stimulation studies, recording studies, anatomical studies, and biochemical and imaging techniques.
* 51:47 - Limitations of these techniques, including the difficulty of distinguishing between centers and fibers of passage, and the challenge of defining "centers" for complex emotional functions.
* 55:20 - The importance of ethology in interpreting neural activity, considering species-specific behaviors and individual differences (e.g., dominance hierarchies).
*Limbic System Structures and Their Functions*
* 1:00:57 - Amygdala: fear, anxiety, aggression, and male sexual motivation.
* 1:02:19 - Septum: inhibition of aggression.
* 1:03:18 - Hippocampus: learning and memory, turning off the stress response.
* 1:04:26 - Mammillary bodies: aspects of maternal behavior.
* 1:04:44 - Prefrontal cortex: emotional regulation, impulse control, long-term planning, gratification postponement, empathy, and social intelligence.
* 1:06:03 - Ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens: dopamine release, pleasure anticipation, and motivation for reward-seeking behavior.
*Bidirectional Communication: Brain and Body*
* 1:13:12 - The James-Lange theory of emotion: the body's physiological responses influence emotional experiences.
* 1:15:13 - The role of epinephrine in modulating emotional intensity.
* 1:18:38 - The effects of benzodiazepines on anxiety and muscle relaxation.
* 1:20:10 - The influence of meditation and biofeedback on blood pressure and emotional regulation.
* 1:21:42 - The impact of sympathetic arousal on emotional processing and memory retrieval.
*Conclusion*
* 1:27:11 - Transition to the next phase of the course, focusing on specific behaviors and their underlying neurobiology.
* 1:28:12 - Announcement of a break for the midterm exam and a David Attenborough film screening.
i summarized the transcript using gemini 1.5 pro
Token count
24,934 / 1,048,576
After my brain surgery, i was told that my Amygdala and Hippocampus were areas affected. Where is the switch for Humor? Prior to surgery i seriously did not
experience humor. Now, Humor brings me more
joy than anything, and it's so fun being alive. Yes, life is daunting, however,
HUMOR is the reward for
staying healthy in mind, body and soul. Life is full of Trade Offs. None of us
gets everything!
Wow Kristin! What a great unfolding of events and your perspective is a strength, I’m sure you know that already though. What type of comedy do you like?
Thank you, Robert Sapolsky.
Thank you, Stanford University.
Picked up watching the series in 2020 with high school biology background only - and it’s freaking illuminating!)
If all teachers were like this I would live. In lecture halls. Isn't it amazing how he never says uh er or pause to think. He has mastered his craft and has the knowledge. Wonderful information. Thanks for showing up today. Im curious as to what algorithm i have entered.
it's not a real lecture without someone coughing the whole time.
nam e hahahahah
I know ...there is ALWAYs some one ...needs researching
He is just trying to prove a point from the virology lecture...
@@jekonimus 😁
@nam e Stanford is so efficient that they combine his class with checking for hernias.
Very thankful I have the ability to listen and learn from the brilliant minds of Stanford for free. Thank you thank you!
deeply in love with the way he says "okay" like a valley girl big west coast energy
Hahaha. Me too! It’s like nnhnokay. I have started to practice saying it. Something disarming about it. .
I loved college and grad school, I listen to this guy and it makes me feel like 20 again! But now, I’m more attentive
Amazing professor, the best on the web ty
James Connolly, I totally agree with you, and I have worked on building sites for over forty years, who would have ever thought that I would be able to learn about the neural wiring of the Limbic system from such a great lecture, wish I'd done this sort of stuff at school, probably wouldn't be where I am now if I had been able to watch this when in my teens. Thankyou Stanford University and Robert Sapolsky, I'll log in to watch more of these in my spare time.
It's not Odin's curse, nor is it from greek mythology. It's Ondine's Curse based on Ondine, a female water sprite first named in the renaissance. And it wasn't her that was cursed, it was she who cursed her lover for being unfaithful :-)
Wow x I love these tit bits x
We call this sleep apnea as well?
@@janosk8392 I think that's when you're asleep and wake up because you stop breathing, or your airways close up.
Haha, I guess Sapolsky’s anecdotes are best suited to peak one’s interest, not to be retold word for word directly.
This professor is so interesting to listen too! He truly has a gift to make you learn
wonderful speaker!
Happy to have the opportunity to see these videos from Romania!
Love this guys classes. He moves along fluidly and just at the right place to keep your attention. Got it good ok moving on.
The second half definitely deserves to be put into a TED talk.
hyqneuron it is, check sapulsky out on ted.
I am . Love watching this guys classes. Entertaining, informative, everything my teachers should have been!
smiling physiologically makes you feel better.... James lang--- thoughts physiology loop
This is his wh
Wow! Are all Stanford educators this talented? This dude is a rock star.
I can’t imagine how much more enjoyable and stimulating high school would have been if any of my teachers had any resemblance of a sense of humour.
I adore and admire Robert Sapolsky for his wit, his vigour, his rigour, his ability to lecture, the passion he possesses, trasmits and evokes, for his kindness his caring and his jokes
Totally fell in love with this teacher
The best lecture about limbic system i have heard. Thank you very much Sir. God bless your limbic system.
Muchas gracias por compartir sus clases, soy estudiante de segundo en psicología y no sabia de que trataba el Sistema Limbico,. Me ayudo mucho a comprender el tema. GRACIAS desde México.
I absolutely love his humour. I just wish I could get an autograph from this man he's taught me so damn much in my life.
I love how multinational the comment section is.
Frenchie here, btw.
SpyMonkey3D A
SpyMonkey3D Poland here
Russian...😉
Aussie
French bagel?
Fascinating! So many helpful realities, ie., when I lay in bed each morning, I'm not eager to face the day. However, as soon as I stand, and straighten my Spine, I'm fine! I have been aware of this reality, months. Linking these two
factors together gives me
the inventive to set my alarm clock daily!
I’m here in 2024 studying for my honorary doctor qualification
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 🎤 Introduction and Background
- Robert Sapolsky begins the lecture and introduces the topic of the limbic system in the brain.
- Explains the relevance of studying the limbic system in understanding emotions.
- Mentions the historical conflict between calling it the "rhinencephalon" or the "limbic system."
02:23 🧠 The Limbic System's Connection with Emotion
- Discusses the initial association of the limbic system with olfaction and the "rhinencephalon."
- Highlights how different species have their unique emotional processing centers, not just limited to olfaction.
- Emphasizes the importance of understanding the limbic system for comprehending emotional experiences.
08:04 🦎 The Triune Brain
- Introduces the concept of the "triune brain," with three layers of brain function.
- Explains the reptilian part of the brain, associated with automatic, regulatory functions.
- Discusses the evolution of different brain regions in various species.
14:38 🧠 The Limbic System's Influence on the Cortex
- Emphasizes the interconnectedness between the limbic system and the cortex.
- Challenges the idea of a clear separation between emotion and cognition in the brain.
- Discusses the bidirectional influence of hormones and emotions on cognitive processes.
18:25 🧩 The Papez Circuit
- Introduces the Papez circuit, a complex network of brain regions within the limbic system.
- Highlights the central goal of the limbic system: influencing the hypothalamus.
- Explains the rule of proximity to the hypothalamus in terms of influence and control.
22:14 🧠 The Limbic System: Introduction to Major Structures and Their Names
- Introduction to major structures of the limbic system.
- Description of key limbic structures: amygdala, hippocampus, septum, mammillary bodies, thalamus, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and the frontal cortex.
- Brief explanation of how the limbic system interacts with the rest of the brain.
26:28 🧠 The Significance of the Frontal Cortex in the Limbic System
- Explanation of the importance of the frontal cortex in the limbic system.
- Discussion of the functions of the frontal cortex, including emotional regulation, impulse control, long-term planning, and social intelligence.
- Mention of the late maturation of the frontal cortex and its role in human behavior.
34:31 🧠 Limbic System Wiring: Major Pathways and Their Significance
- Overview of major pathways connecting different limbic structures, including the amygdalofugal pathway, fimbria fornix, medial forebrain bundle, stria terminalis, and mammillothalamic tract.
- Insight into how these pathways reflect both embryonic development and evolutionary history.
- Demonstrating the importance of direct versus multi-synapse connections within the limbic system.
43:28 🧠 Techniques for studying the brain
- Various experimental techniques, including lesions in humans, selective destruction in animals, and electrode stimulation
- Strategies for artificially exciting neurons and simulating inputs for understanding brain regions
46:44 🧪 Imaging brain regions
- Brain imaging techniques like CAT scans, CT scans, and MRI to visualize brain areas
- Measuring metabolic rate and identifying differences in brain region sizes
- Showing how experiences can affect the size of brain regions
49:04 🤖 Limitations in brain research
- Challenges in distinguishing between brain centers and fiber pathways
- The difficulty of defining emotional brain centers due to the complexity of emotions and behaviors
- The importance of considering species and individual differences in brain function
51:28 🧠 Function of limbic system structures
- The amygdala's role in fear, anxiety, aggression, and male sexual motivation
- The septum's inhibitory function in aggression
- The hippocampus's involvement in learning, memory, and stress regulation
- The mammillary bodies related to maternal behavior
- The prefrontal cortex's importance in sexual behavior, aggression, and depression, and the role of the anterior cingulate in depression.
01:05:14 🧠 Limbic System Introduction
- The limbic system's role in processing emotional responses.
- How the anterior cingulate is activated in response to empathy and pain.
- A connection between clinical depression and pathological hypersensitivity to emotional pain.
01:06:10 🎉 The Ventral Tegmental Area and Nucleus Accumbens
- The significance of the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens in brain function.
- The release of dopamine and its relationship to pleasure and addiction.
- How the brain's reward system is more about anticipating pleasure than experiencing it.
01:07:07 🕹️ Dopamine and Pursuit of Pleasure
- Dopamine's role in anticipating pleasure and motivating behavior to achieve rewards.
- The concept of reward anticipation and the activation of dopamine.
- A classic paradigm demonstrating how dopamine drives the pursuit of pleasure.
01:08:33 🧊 Hypothalamus and Its Subareas
- Overview of the hypothalamus and its various subareas.
- The functions of specific hypothalamic nuclei such as the ventromedial hypothalamus, suprachiasmatic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, and arcuate nucleus.
- Gender and sexual orientation differences in hypothalamic subareas.
01:13:19 🔄 The James-Lange Theory of Emotion
- Explanation of the James-Lange theory of emotion, where bodily responses influence emotional states.
- Examples illustrating how physiological changes affect emotions and cognitive interpretation.
- The impact of physiological arousal on relationship dynamics and gender differences.
01:25:18 😃 Body Feedback and Emotional State
- The influence of body feedback on emotional states and well-being.
- Examples of how physical actions, such as smiling and posture, can affect emotions and self-assessment.
- The connection between muscle movements and emotional interpretation.
01:26:41 🔄 Recap and Transition to Specific Behaviors
- Recap of the material covered, including the brain's control of hormones and autonomic functions.
- Mention of the two halves of the loop between emotions and physiological responses.
- Transition to the latter half of the course, focusing on specific behaviors and understanding their neurobiological basis.
01:27:40 🦁 Ethological Approach to Behavior
- Discussion of the ethological approach to understanding behavior.
- Questions to be addressed, such as the neural mechanisms behind behaviors and the role of sensory stimuli.
- The importance of considering hormones and evolutionary context when studying behavior.
01:28:10 📚 Upcoming Review and David Attenborough Movie
- Announcement of the upcoming exam and a break from classes on Monday.
- Contemplation of a review session and the decision to watch a David Attenborough movie (Life, BBC version) in the absence of class.
- Informal closure and reference to visiting Stanford University's website for more information.
Made with HARPA AI
Thanks for the 📝 ❤
Holy crap. why did I do engineering semiconductors and all the crap. Looks like this is lot of important and still totally under-understood stuff.
Rajan Rangarajan It is something we can be very proud and happy about in the United States where our University level educational system allows so much flexibility in what subjects we wish to pursue. I started out in engineering, but had little confidence that this was what I really wanted, so I took every "elective" class that I could, in psychology, sociology, philosophy, maths (haha... We call it math), physics, chemistry, and found everything so fascinating. My next great decision was to transfer from a university that's focused mostly on engineering (Purdue) to one that was much stronger across many academic disciplines (Michigan), where my quest continued. eventually I found a major that I loved, and it was a perfect fit for me (geology), yet I was still able to graduate in 4 years, eventually going back to graduate school for MS and PhD in the same field.
but I never stopped learning as much as I could about every discipline. an active mind always wants to expand its Horizons. I was amazed to discover that much later in life, my IQ had increased 25 points over what it was when I was younger. I'm not sure how really significant IQ is, but this is a true story... and I never thought of myself as being unusually intelligent, and I don't believe I was. I just never stopped exercising my mind, and apparently it kept getting stronger. I was was constantly curious and wanting to learn more about the world. I've just recently started exploring RUclips, and it's absolutely amazing to discover lectures such as this one.
I wish that everyone in the world we're more like me, because then I think we would not have narrow-minded conservatives and religious zealots, who deny Science, and drag Humanity downward into ignorance and fear.
I'm very distraught that my own country, the United States, has been taken over politically by people who are very ignorant, and who are more interested in making the world the way they want it to be than in discovering the world the way it actually is.
Never stop observing and learning, and doing so with humility and respect for others. also, use your knowledge to communicate and try to help educate others.
Kevin Prima ;-) M.S. & PhD, Geology, Penn State! Go Blue [& White].
The entire anti-"elitist" meme has been nurtured by the right-wing Hate & Blame porn industry (Fox, Limbaugh, Trump, and their ilk). The common theme is that the more "victimized" and angry their audience feels, the more power and wealth they amass for themselves. And informed democracy becomes a quaint memory.
Uhh
K
Lol
Thank you Stanford uploading Sapolsky’s lectures to RUclips
Learned good deal and reinforced and corrected some of my thoughts
Professor Sapolsky...this 5 minute recess to compose one's notes is A BRILLIANT TOOL! Perfect, perfect for learning! I'd also set aside 10 minutes for your students to run 20 laps around the building...watch the focus!
@1:09:40 OMG!, I feel so valid listening to this
This lecture alone is capable of making me reconsider parts of myself. I won't be surprised if I were a different person now.
Anyone thought about Proust's madeleine, about the closeness of olfaction and emotions/memories ?
Man! What a lecture! Bow down to King Sapolsky.
I study Neuroscience at Sussex University in England, but I wish I could come to Stanford to be lectured by Saplosky.
Thank you Robert! Spending time with your courses helped me understand way more than my lectures and text books in "behavioral neuroscience" !!
This is not only a lecture, it is an endless sentence with no commas, semicolons or periods.
yeah, that's the only issue i have bc it's one run-on and, sometimes, it's too much. a breath in between or normal voice patterns where you can tell where one sentence ends and another begins would benefit me, personally. i get a little overwhelmed by the non-stop talking.
haha I sympathize, because my mind works in that way too. trying to weave together so many different threads into a coherent tapestry.
@@djurlivet You can turn on the Closed Captions in your RUclips player. All of the lectures have great CC's attached with them which you can read along with the video to kinda not feel like listening to a non-stop monologue.
Robert Sopolsky much Thanks for this remarkable tutorial this was a truly refreshing crash course on making since of the Limpic system/ the nose brain in its time of studies.