Thalamus

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8 Terms

1
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Describe the region where the Thalamus (Diencephalon) is found

  • Found between the Telencephalon (cerebrum) and the Mesencephalon (midbrain)

  • Diencephalon is separated by the third ventricle

Medial to the posterior limb of the internal capsule

  • Involves 3 structures:

    • Thalamus: sensory relay, motor coordination, higher cognitive functions

    • Hypothalamus: body homeostasis through autonomic and hormone functions

    • Subthalamus: motor coordination (as part of the basal ganglia)

2
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What are the primary function of the Thalamus?

  • Sensory

    • Thalamic neurons are the final neurons in all sensory pathways to the cortex (except for olfaction!)

    • Plays an important role in sleep - decreasing cortical activation, and therefore, our conscious perception of sensations

  • Motor

    • Takes part in motor circuits interconnecting basal ganglia and cerebellum with the motor cortices

    • Involved in planning, execution, coordination, and control of movement

  • Limbic

    • Connections with limbic areas of the cortex for memory and emotion

    • Plays a role in linking memory and emotions to sensations and behaviours

  • Cognitive

    • Facilitates attention, alertness, and consciousness through connections with the prefrontal cortex

    • Supports higher cognitive functions like learning, memory consolidation, and decision-making

3
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Describe the general structure of the Thalamus - Groups and overall structure

  • Thalamus is separated into 4 regions:

    • Intralaminar Group

    • Anterior Group

    • Medial Group

    • Lateral Group

4
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Which nuclei are characterised as ‘Specific Sensory’ nuclei? What are their general functions?

  • Ventral Posterior Lateral Nucleus

    • Receives input from Medial Lemniscus and Spinothalamic tract

    • Outputs through superior thalamic radiations to ‘body regions’ of S1

  • Ventral Posterior Medial Nucleus

    • Receives input from Trigeminothalamic tract (principal and spinal trigeminal nuclei)

    • Outputs through superior thalamic radiations to ‘head regions’ of S1

  • Lateral Geniculate

    • Visual Pathway

    • Output to V1 via retrolenticular part of internal capsule

  • Medial Geniculate

    • Auditory Pathway

    • Output to A1 via sublenticular part of internal capsule

<ul><li><p>Ventral Posterior Lateral Nucleus </p><ul><li><p>Receives input from Medial Lemniscus and Spinothalamic tract</p></li><li><p>Outputs through superior thalamic radiations to ‘body regions’ of S1</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Ventral Posterior Medial Nucleus</p><ul><li><p>Receives input from Trigeminothalamic tract (principal and spinal trigeminal nuclei)</p></li><li><p>Outputs through superior thalamic radiations to ‘head regions’ of S1</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Lateral Geniculate</p><ul><li><p>Visual Pathway</p></li><li><p>Output to V1 via retrolenticular part of internal capsule</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Medial Geniculate</p><ul><li><p>Auditory Pathway</p></li><li><p>Output to A1 via sublenticular part of internal capsule</p></li></ul></li></ul><p></p>
5
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Which nuclei are characterised as ‘Specific Limbic’ nuclei? What are their general functions?

Anterior Nucleus

  • Input from limbic areas (hippocampus) of the temporal lobe via the hypothalamus

  • Outputs to the limbic areas (cingulate gyrus) via anterior thalamic radiations

6
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Which nuclei are characterised as ‘Specific Motor’ nuclei? What are their general functions?

  • Ventral Anterior Nucleus

    • Receives input from basal ganglia motor loop (GBi)

  • Ventral Lateral Nucleus

    • Receives input from cerebellum (interposed and dentate nuclei)

Output to all motor cortices via superior thalamic radiations

7
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Which nuclei are characterised as ‘Association’ nuclei? What are their general functions?

  • Medial dorsal and Lateral posterior nuclei

    • Connections between limbic areas and parietal cortices

  • Lateral dorsal nucleus

    • Connections between basal ganglia, limbic areas, and prefrontal cortex via

      anterior thalamic radiation

    • Through its connections with the basal ganglia and association cortices, it

      may play a role in the decision-making process in habitual target selection

  • Pulvinar Nucleus

    • Connections between association cortices of frontal, temporal, parietal and

      occipital lobes

    • Role in sensory integration

8
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Which nuclei are characterised as ‘Association’ nuclei? What are their general functions?

  • Intralaminar and Midline nuclei

    • Connections between reticular formation, basal ganglia, unimodal and

      multimodal association cortices

    • May play a role in coordinating motor functions for goal-based movement sequences