Function of thalamus

PALMIHELP / iStock / Getty Images Anatomy During fetal development, the diencephalon arises from the anterior vesicle of the neural tube that also gives rise to the prosencephalon and telencephalon. The diencephalon is divided into four structures the thalamus, epithalamus, subthalamus, and the hypothalamus, which forms by the eighth week of gestation. • The zona incerta which stimulates the thalamus (responsible for the function of smooth muscle, cardiac muscles, and glands, focus, reflexes, and more) • The reticular nucleus which is responsible for the regulation of the thalamocortical pathway and consciousness • The perigeniculate nucleus which plays an important role in vision • The subthalamic nucleus which is responsible for somatic motor function Associated Conditions Due to the wide range of physiological functions that take place in the diencephalon, dysfunction due to a genetic condition, disease (such as a lesion or tumor) or injury (lack of oxygen, stroke, or traumatic accident for example), occurring in any location of this part of the brain can be devastating. Related to Dysfunction of the Epithalamus Any injury or problem that impairs proper functioning of the epithalamus or especially the pineal gland can lead to psychiatric problems such as mood disorders, issues with the sleep-wake cycle, and more. The following conditions are associated with dysfunction of the epithalamus: • Dysregulation of body temperature, appetite, or the sleep-wake cycle • Uncontrol...

Synonyms: Dorsal thalamus, Thalamencephalon , Every major city has a central hub through which its citizens can access public transportation to get to their desired destination. In the case of the human body, the nervous system can be divided into the major road ways (nerves) that carry individuals (impulses) to and from the big city (the The thalamus is ideally situated at the core of the central hub. The thalamus relays and integrates a myriad of motor and sensory impulses between the higher centres of the brain and the peripheries. Key facts about the thalamus Parts Anterior, medial, and lateral thalami, interthalamic adhesion, internal and external medullary laminae, medial and lateral geniculate bodies Relations Anteriorly: Interventricular foramen of Monro, internal cerebral vein Medially: third ventricle Posteriorly: stria terminalis, choroid plexus of third ventricle, body of the fornix, internal cerebral vein, superior thalamostriate vein, caudate nucleus, internal capsule, corpora quadrigemini, splenium of corpus callosum Inferiorly: hypothalamus, cerebral aqueduct, tegmentum Nuclei Ventral group - anterior, lateral, posterior medial, posterior lateral nuclei Medial group - median, medial dorsal, medial nuclei Geniculate bodies - medial, lateral nuclei Anterior and reticular nuclei Vascularisation Posterior cerebral artery The gross structure, anatomical relationships, nuclear composition, some neuronal tracts that terminate at the thalamus and its blood supply w...

The thalamus engages in various functions including sensory processing, attention, decision making and memory. Classically, this diversity of function has been attributed to the nuclear organization of the thalamus, with each nucleus performing a well-defined function. Here, we highlight recent studies that used state-of-the-art expression profiling, which have revealed gene expression gradients at the single-cell level within and across thalamic nuclei. These gradients, combined with anatomical tracing and physiological analyses, point to previously unappreciated heterogeneity and redefine thalamic units of function on the basis of unique input–output connectivity patterns and gene expression. We propose that thalamic subnetworks, defined by the intersection of genetics, connectivity and computation, provide a more appropriate level of functional description; this notion is supported by behavioral phenotypes resulting from appropriately tailored perturbations. We provide several examples of thalamic subnetworks and suggest how this new perspective may both propel progress in basic neuroscience and reveal unique targets with therapeutic potential. • Jones, E. G. The Thalamus (Plenum, 1985). • Sherman, S. M. & Guillery, R. W. Exploring the Thalamus and its Role in Cortical Function (MIT Press, 2006). • Jones, E. G. The Thalamus (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2007). • Crabtree, J. W. Functional diversity of thalamic reticular subnetworks. Front. Syst. Neurosci. 12, 41 (2018). • Hub...