The limbic system is a set of structures that produces emotions. These emotional systems create the approach or withdrawal behaviors that ensure our survival. For example, mammals can be conditioned to fear a situation that has life-threatening potential. Or displays of anger can ward off competitors for a scarce resource.
The neocortex is the newest part of the brain. This part of the brain underwent an amazing, rapid expansion that differentiated us, the human species, from our predecessors.
As a whole, the neocortex has endowed us with a capacity for reasoning, planning, and creativity unprecedented in the history of life on earth. It is the neocortex which is primarily responsible for our thinking intelligence.
However, Ilchi Lee contend that it is a grave mistake to think of the neocortex as the central structure of our human character. Emotions have a deep influence on our relationships, decision making, and life purpose, in both positive and negative ways. Learning to recognize and manage our emotions is a critical life task whose importance can hardly be understated.