THALAMUS

Thalamus

This brain structure is situated between the cerebral cortex and the brainstem

. Thalamus

This key brain structure serves as a central relay and integration point for sensory, motor, cognitive, and emotional information

. Smell

This sensory modality is an exception to the sensory information relayed by the thalamus to the cortex

. Thalamus

This structure relays and integrates sense information, with the exception of smell

. Reciprocal connections

The thalamus has many of these with the cerebral cortex

. Limbic System

The thalamus is listed as a component of this system

. Thalamus

This brain structure is part of the Limbic System

. Limbic Network

The thalamus is listed as a component of this brain network

. Thalamus

This brain structure is part of the Limbic Network along with the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus

. ARAS pathway

The thalamus serves as a relay point in this pathway involved in consciousness and attention span

. Thalamus

The ARAS pathway, ascending from the pons and midbrain, relays through this structure

. Consciousness and attention span

The ARAS pathway, which relays through the thalamus, is involved in these functions

. Behavior

Particular parts of the thalamus can affect this function if lesioned

. Thalamus

Lesions in particular parts of this brain structure can affect behavior

. Contralateral side of the body

Destruction of thalamic nuclei typically results in loss of sensation on this side

. Loss of sensation

This clinical outcome occurs on the contralateral side of the body when thalamic nuclei are destroyed

. Second-order neurons

These neurons, located in relay nuclei in the spinal cord or brainstem, transmit information to the thalamus

. Thalamus

Second-order neurons in relay nuclei project to this structure

. Relay nuclei

Axons of second-order neurons may cross the midline here before ascending to the thalamus

. Third-order neurons

These neurons are located within the thalamus

. Cortex

Third-order neurons originating in the thalamus project to this destination

. Fourth-order neurons

These neurons are located in the cerebral cortex and receive input from third-order neurons in the thalamus

. Diencephalon

The thalamus is embryologically derived from this part of the brain

. Thalamus

This brain structure originates from the Diencephalon

. Glutamate

This excitatory neurotransmitter is used by the thalamus

. Thalamus

This brain structure uses Glutamate as an excitatory neurotransmitter

. Somatotopically

Information from different parts of the body is arranged in this spatially organized manner within the thalamus

. Sensory pathway

The thalamus is a required relay point in this pathway from receptors to the cerebral cortex

. Cerebral cortex

Somatosensory pathways from receptors pass through the thalamus before reaching this destination

. VPL

This thalamic nucleus receives input from the Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscus (DCML) pathway

. VPL thalamus

The medial lemniscus, carrying information from the DCML pathway, ascends to this contralateral nucleus

. Contralateral VPL thalamus

The medial lemniscus carrying DCML information terminates in this specific nucleus

. Medial lemniscus

This ascending tract of the DCML pathway terminates in the VPL thalamus

. VPL

This thalamic nucleus receives input from the Spinothalamic tract

. Spinothalamic tract

This pathway projects to the VPL thalamus

. VPL

This thalamic nucleus is associated with processing somatosensory information from the limbs

. Limbs

The VPL thalamic nucleus primarily processes somatosensory information from these body parts

. Medial aspect of the VPL nucleus

Fibers representing the arms in the DCML pathway terminate in this part of the VPL thalamus

. Arms

Fibers from this body region terminate in the medial aspect of the VPL thalamus

. Lateral aspect of the VPL nucleus

Fibers representing the legs in the DCML pathway terminate in this part of the VPL thalamus

. Legs

Fibers from this body region terminate in the lateral aspect of the VPL thalamus

. Somatotopic organization

The VPL nucleus exhibits this spatial arrangement, with arms represented medially and legs laterally

. VPM

This thalamic nucleus receives input from the Spinothalamic tract

. Spinothalamic tract

This pathway projects to the VPM thalamus

. VPM

This thalamic nucleus is associated with processing somatosensory information from the face

. Face

The VPM thalamic nucleus primarily processes somatosensory information from this body part

. VPL and VPM

These two thalamic nuclei receive input from the Spinothalamic tract

. Pain and temperature

The Spinothalamic tract carries information about these sensations to the VPL and VPM thalamus

. VPL

Receives somatosensory modalities from the DCML pathway, including fine touch, pressure, vibration, two-point discrimination, proprioception, shape, motion, conscious awareness of body position, and limb movement sense

. VPL

Receives somatosensory modalities from the Spinothalamic tract, including pain and temperature

. VPM

Receives somatosensory modalities from the Spinothalamic tract regarding pain and temperature from the face

. VPL thalamus

Sensory information including touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from the limbs is relayed through this nucleus

. VPM thalamus

Sensory information including pain, temperature, and touch from the face is relayed through this nucleus

. VL, VA, and CM nuclei

These thalamic nuclei receive output from the basal ganglia structures GPi and SNr

. GPi and SNr

These basal ganglia structures project output to the VL, VA, and CM nuclei of the thalamus

. Basal ganglia output

This type of motor system output targets the VL, VA, and CM nuclei of the thalamus

. GABA

The GPi and SNr use this inhibitory neurotransmitter when projecting to the thalamus

. VL, VA, CM

These thalamic nuclei are targets of inhibitory output from the GPi and SNr

. VL nucleus

This specific thalamic nucleus receives output from the Cerebrocerebellum

. Cerebrocerebellum

The output from this functional division of the cerebellum projects to the VL thalamus

. Dentate nucleus

This deep cerebellar nucleus is the output nucleus for the cerebrocerebellum and projects to the VL thalamus

. VL thalamus

The dentate nucleus projects to this thalamic nucleus

. SCP (Superior Cerebellar Peduncle)

Axons from the dentate nucleus projecting to the VL thalamus travel through this structure

. Cerebellar output

This motor system output from the cerebellum relays through the thalamus before reaching the motor and premotor cortex

. Deep cerebellar nuclei

The output from these nuclei primarily projects to the thalamus

. Thalamus

The output from the deep cerebellar nuclei primarily projects here

. Premotor and motor cortices

Cerebellar output relays through the thalamus before reaching these cortical areas

. CM nucleus

This thalamic nucleus is one of the targets of basal ganglia output from the GPi and SNr

. Dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus

The Anterior Cingulate Cortex is reciprocally linked to this specific thalamic nucleus

. Anterior Cingulate Cortex

This limbic structure is reciprocally linked to the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus

. Thalamocortical fibers

These fibers ascend from the thalamus to the primary and secondary somatosensory cortices

. Posterior limb of the internal capsule and corona radiata

Thalamocortical fibers ascend through these white matter structures

. SI and SII somatosensory cortices

Thalamocortical fibers originating in the thalamus terminate in these areas of the parietal cortex

. Postcentral gyrus

Thalamocortical fibers terminate in this gyrus of the parietal cortex

. BA 3a, 3b, 1, and 2

Thalamocortical fibers terminate in these specific Brodmann Areas of the parietal cortex

. Diffusely through both hemispheres

From the thalamus, the ARAS pathway projects in this manner to affect consciousness

. Interventricular foramen (foramen of Monro)

This structure connects the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle

. Third ventricle

The interventricular foramen connects the lateral ventricles to this ventricle

. Diencephalon

This is the embryologic origin of the third ventricle

. Third ventricle

This ventricle's embryologic origin is the Diencephalon

. Third-order neurons

The cell bodies of these neurons in the somatosensory pathway are located in the VPL/VPM thalamic nuclei

. VPL and VPM nuclei

These thalamic nuclei contain the cell bodies of third-order neurons in the somatosensory pathway

. Contralateral VPL thalamus

The nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus project to this thalamic nucleus via the medial lemniscus

. VPL thalamus

This nucleus receives third-order neurons that relay sensations from the trunk and limbs via the medial lemniscus

. VPM thalamus

This nucleus receives third-order neurons that relay sensations from the face

. Thalamus

Motor information is integrated in this structure

. Thalamus

Sensory information is integrated in this structure

. Thalamus

Cognitive information is integrated in this structure

. Thalamus

Emotional information is integrated in this structure

. Thalamus

Sense information is integrated in this structure

. Thalamus

The cerebrocerebellum pathway relays through this structure after the dentate nucleus output and before reaching the cortex

. Thalamus

The output from the basal ganglia to the cortex passes through this structure

. VL nucleus

Output from the Cerebrocerebellum influences the motor cortex by projecting through this thalamic nucleus

. Reciprocal connections with the cortex

This feature allows the thalamus to not just relay but also modulate cortical activity

. Glutamate

As an excitatory neurotransmitter, it is used by neurons projecting from the thalamus to the cortex

. GABA

As an inhibitory neurotransmitter, it is used by neurons projecting to the thalamus from the GPi and SNr

. Inhibitory

The output from the GPi and SNr to the VL, VA, and CM thalamic nuclei is this type of signal

. VL, VA, CM

These thalamic nuclei receive inhibitory input from the basal ganglia

. DCML pathway

This pathway transmits information including touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception to the VPL thalamus

. Spinothalamic pathway

This pathway transmits information including pain and temperature to the VPL and VPM thalamus