How do “instincts” actually work, and what part of the brain is that located in?

Question

How do “instincts” actually work, and what part of the brain is that located in?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Instincts are basically “prewired” skills/experiences. They work exactly like a learned response, just that you don’t have to learn them because they are written into your DNA.

Just how learned functions of your brain they can be located in many areas, depending on what kind of instinct they are. For example prewired emotions (like primal fears) are located in your amygdala together with all learned emotions.