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Triune Brain Concept Based on Paul MacLean; Prepared by Jay E. Gould 10/9/03 Looking at the overall anatomical relationships of the brain (see figure at end), notice how the most recently evolved neomammalian neocortex of the cerebral hemispheres surrounds the older paleomammalian limbic system, which in turn surrounds the ancient reptilian upper brainstem (basal ganglia, and diencephalon). This division of the brain into three parts constitutes what MacLean calls the Triune Brain of mammals (meaning three brains in one). This conceptualization represents a hierarchical organization of the brain from an evolutionary perspective. Note, however, that although it is an interesting way of viewing general relationships between structure and function in the brain, this theory from the early 1960s--which is only summarized here--is a vast oversimplification, and advances in neuroscience research have shown it not to be correct in all of its details. 1. At the core of the human brain is the old proto-reptilian brain, or R-complex, which is responsible for innate, stereotyped, species-typical behavioral patterns necessary for survival of self and species. It is involved with reflexive and instinctive behaviors such as feeding, fighting, fleeing, and reproduction--the so-called Four Fs. Behaviors included are aggression, territoriality, dominance, ritual displays and other nonverbal communication, as well as social conformity (examples: xenophobia, paranoia, war, military pageantry and goose stepping, graduation processionals, bowing to authority, and symbolism; e.g., phallic symbols, the cross, the hammer and sickle, and flags.) The proto-reptilian brain is made up primarily of the upper brain stem (referred to as the striatal complex); i.e., the base of the forebrain: diencephalon, basal ganglia, and part of the olfactory system. The hypothala