Limbic
/ˈlɪm.bɪk/noun
Relating to the part of the brain involved in emotions and drives.
Did you know?The term 'limbic' comes from the Latin 'limbus', meaning 'border', signifying the brain's role as a boundary between instinct and emotion.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
limbus
“A border or edge, often associated with boundaries of consciousness.”
Middle Ages
Medieval Latin
limbicus
“Pertaining to the border or edge, used in early studies of the human mind.”
19th Century
English
limbic
“Adopted into psychology to describe the emotional brain structures.”
20th Century
Modern English
limbic system
“Referring to the complex set of brain structures that govern emotions.”