what brain structures are involved in executive function?
This system contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus. Brain Stem: Underneath the limbic system is the brain stem. This structure is responsible for basic vital life functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure. Scientists say that this is the simplest part of human brains because animals' entire brains, such as reptiles (who appear early on the evolutionary scale) resemble our brain stem.