Diencephalon- Thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 1

What does the diencephalon and mostly thalamus do?

Answer 1

receives ascending sensory info,
processes the info,
relays it to the CORTEX

Question 2

Where are the 2 thalami located?

Answer 2

one on each side of 3rd ventricle

Question 3

what are the 6 nuclear subdivisions of thalamus?

Answer 3

1. Anterior group
2. medial group
3. lateral group
4. Metathalamic group
5. intralaminar group
6. reticular coat

Question 4

what are the fiber layers of the thalamus?

Answer 4

internal and external medullary laminae

Question 5

what is the anterior group related to?

Answer 5

limbic system

Question 6

what is the medial group related to?

what is the main nucleus in this group?

Answer 6

prefrontal cortex

-Dorsomedial nucleus

Question 7

what is the lateral group related to?

What are the two main tiers in this group?

Answer 7

somatosensory & motor areas

• Dorsal tier
• ventral tier

Question 8

what is in the dorsal tier?

Answer 8

pulvinar

Question 9

what is in the ventral tier?

Answer 9

VPM, VPL, VL, VA (nuclei relaying sensory and motor info)

Question 10

what is the metathalamic group related to?

Answer 10

lateral and medial geniculate nucleus

Question 11

What is the intralaminar group related to?

Answer 11

centromedian nucleus related to RF

Question 12

what is the Reticular coat related to?

Answer 12

gathers efferent thalamic info

Question 13

what are the subcortical afferents to thalamic nuclei?

Answer 13

• sensory pathways
• basal ganglia
• cerebellum
• RF

Question 14

T/F: the thalamus is the chief integrating sensor of all sensory info.

Answer 14

T

Question 15

What sensations for conscious perception is the thalamus involved in?

Answer 15

All sensations except olfaction

Question 16

what other roles does thalamus play in?

Answer 16

• alertness, and attention

- emotion, pain, agreeableness)

Question 17

what are 3 functional groupings of thalamic nuclei?

Answer 17

1. cortical relay nuclei
2. association nuclei
3. nonspecific nuclei

Question 18

what does cortical relay nuclei do?

Answer 18

receive sensory info,

relays it to cortex

Question 19

what does association cortex do?

Answer 19

inter thalamic connections

Question 20

where does association cortex project to?

What does it include?

Answer 20

• frontal and medial lobes

- pulvinar

Question 21

what does nonspecific nuclei do?

Answer 21

• behavioral arousal , sleep

Question 22

what occurs with thalamic pain syndrome?

Answer 22

can’t distinguish between irritating or painful stimulus

Question 23

what cortical areas are heightened with this central sensitization of pain? (thalamic pain syndrome)

Answer 23

• thalamus
• cingulate gyrus (limbic or emotion)
• parietal lobe
• prefrontal cortex

Question 24

what is hyperalgesia or allodynia?

Answer 24

clinical representation of thalamic pain syndrome

Question 25

How does stimulus threshold change?

Answer 25

• elevated for tactile and position sense

- lowered for nociceptive stimuli

Question 26

what happens at threshold?

Answer 26

• sensations are exaggerated, exceptionally unpleasant

- pin prick leads to severe burning pain

Question 27

T/F: theres no spontaneous pain, while exaggerated its linked to a real stimulus

Answer 27

F

Question 28

T/F: there is emotional instability and pseudo bulbar effect

Answer 28

T

Question 29

What is the hypothalamus responsible for?

Answer 29

homeostatic influences necessary for life

cardiorespiratory, thermoregulation, metabolic, water resorption, digestive activity

Question 30

How are hypothalamus’ responsibilities manifested?

Answer 30

control of pituitary gland, ANS

Question 31

Hypothalamus acts in a _______ manner receiving afferent visceral info and is influenced by ________ and ________

Answer 31

• reflexive
• limbic system
• prefrontal cortex

Question 32

What are the UMN of the ANS?

Answer 32

Autonomic control areas

-ant., lateral, ventromedial hypothalamus

Question 33

what emotional reactions is the hypothalamus involved in?

Answer 33

embarrassment
fear
anxiety