THE DOMINANT LIMBIC SYSTEM_sandbox

DOMINANT LIMBIC SYSTEM

The limbic system matures first.

Myelin reaches the middle of the brain by the time a person is in middle school. The limbic system is the place where we experience:

  • Motivation + memory
  • Risk, reward + pleasure
  • Emotions

The prefrontal cortex matures last.

It’s not fully myelinated until a person is in their late twenties (at the earliest!). This part of the brain is in charge of:

  • Consequential thinking
  • Executive function
  • Planning