Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus, and just above the brain stem. It is one of the four parts of the limbic system.
The hypothalamus puts the body's normal level of activity in good order. The hypothalamus's main function is to keep the body in balance. It is responsible for hormone manufacturing. The hormones made by this part of the brain manage body temperature, sleep, hunger, moods, thirst, circadian rhythms, reproduction, and the discharge of more hormones in the body. One of the other functions is that it connects the nervous system to the endocrine system. The hypothalamus helps a lot with loud laughter.
The hypothalamus puts the body's normal level of activity in good order. The hypothalamus's main function is to keep the body in balance. It is responsible for hormone manufacturing. The hormones made by this part of the brain manage body temperature, sleep, hunger, moods, thirst, circadian rhythms, reproduction, and the discharge of more hormones in the body. One of the other functions is that it connects the nervous system to the endocrine system. The hypothalamus helps a lot with loud laughter.
The video above demonstrates how the limbic system functions. Start at 00:21 and end at 1:20.
In humans, the hypothalamus is the size of an almond. It is responsible for many things in the nervous system. The nervous system is a complicated lot of nerves and particular cells known as neurons that carry signals between different parts of the body. The hippocampus gets information, then the choroid plexus sends the information to the fornix, which then sends the information to the hypothalamus.
Glossary Link: Glossary
Hippocampus Link: Hippocampus
Bibliography
"Hypothalamus Function, Definition & Location | Body Maps." 2011. 29 Apr. 2014 <http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/hypothalamus>
"Hypothalamus - The Brain Made Simple." 2011. 29 Apr. 2014 <http://brainmadesimple.com/hypothalamus.html>
"HowStuffWorks "The Limbic System" - Science." 2013. 29 Apr. 2014 <http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/laughter4.htm>
Hippocampus Link: Hippocampus
Bibliography
"Hypothalamus Function, Definition & Location | Body Maps." 2011. 29 Apr. 2014 <http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/hypothalamus>
"Hypothalamus - The Brain Made Simple." 2011. 29 Apr. 2014 <http://brainmadesimple.com/hypothalamus.html>
"HowStuffWorks "The Limbic System" - Science." 2013. 29 Apr. 2014 <http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/laughter4.htm>