<P> The structures of the limbic system are involved in motivation , emotion , learning , and memory . The limbic system is where the subcortical structures meet the cerebral cortex . The limbic system operates by influencing the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system . It is highly interconnected with the nucleus accumbens , which plays a role in sexual arousal and the `` high '' derived from certain recreational drugs . These responses are heavily modulated by dopaminergic projections from the limbic system . In 1954 , Olds and Milner found that rats with metal electrodes implanted into their nucleus accumbens , as well as their septal nuclei , repeatedly pressed a lever activating this region , and did so in preference to eating and drinking , eventually dying of exhaustion . The limbic system also includes the basal ganglia . The basal ganglia are a set of subcortical structures that direct intentional movements . The basal ganglia are located near the thalamus and hypothalamus . They receive input from the cerebral cortex , which sends outputs to the motor centers in the brain stem . A part of the basal ganglia called the striatum controls posture and movement . Recent studies indicate that , if there is an inadequate supply of dopamine , the striatum is affected , which can lead to visible behavioral symptoms of Parkinson 's disease . </P>
the limbic system is an important part of the brain because it regulates
the endocrine system the autonomic nervous system