Thalamus

Question 0

Nearly all inputs to the cerebrum synapse first on thalamus neurons.

What are some examples of these inputs?

Answer 0

Sensation, motor/movement, emotions, memory, arousal/consciousness, and attention.

Question 1

What is the nickname for the Thalamus?

Why is this?

Answer 1

The “switchboard” for the brain.

It is because almost all inputs to the cerebrum first synapse in the thalamus, the thalamus projects axons to almost all of the cortex, and the thalamus gets feedback connections from the cortex.

Question 2

What are the five groups that thalamus nuclei are organized into?

Answer 2

1. Lateral nuclear group
2. Medial nuclear group
3. Anterior nuclear group
4. Intralaminar nuclei
5. Nonspecific nuclei

Question 3

What structure separates the three groups?

What is this structure made of?

Answer 3

The Y shaped “internal medullary lamina” separates the three groups of nuclei.

The internal medullary lamina is made of white matter.

Question 4

What nuclei are in the Lateral nuclei group?

Answer 4

A. Ventral Posterolateral (VPL)
B. Ventral Posteromedial (VPM)
C. Lateral Geniculate (LGN)
D. Medial Geniculate (MGN)
E. Ventral Lateral (VL)
F. Ventral Anterior (VA)
G. Pulvinar (P)

Question 5

What nuclei are in the Medial nuclei group?

Answer 5

Mediodorsal Nucleus (MD)

Question 6

What nuclei are in the Anterior nuclei group?

Answer 6

Anterior Nucleus (AN)

Question 7

Ventral Posterior Lateral Nuclei (VPL)

- Type

Answer 7

Relay: Sensory

Question 8

Ventral Posterior Lateral Nuclei (VPL)

- Input

Answer 8

Ascending somatosensory pathways from body

Question 9

Ventral Posterior Lateral Nuclei (VPL)

- Output

Answer 9

Somatosensory cortex

Question 10

Ventral Posterior Lateral Nuclei (VPL)

- Function

Answer 10

Relays somatosensation of body to cortex

Question 11

Ventral Posteromedial Nucleus (VPM)

- Type

Answer 11

Relay: Sensory

Question 12

Ventral Posteromedial Nucleus (VPM)

- Input

Answer 12

Somatosensory pathways from face / taste

Question 13

Ventral Posteromedial Nucleus (VPM)

- Output

Answer 13

Somatosensory cortex

Question 14

Ventral Posteromedial Nucleus (VPM)

- Function

Answer 14

Relays somatosensation from face and taste to cortex

Question 15

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)

- Type

Answer 15

Relay: Sensory

Question 16

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)

- Input

Answer 16

Pathways from retina

Question 17

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)

- Output

Answer 17

Primary visual cortex

Question 18

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN)

- Function

Answer 18

Relays visual input to cortex

Question 19

Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN)

- Type

Answer 19

Relay: Sensory

Question 20

Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN)

- Input

Answer 20

Pathways from inferior colliculus

Question 21

Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN)

- Output

Answer 21

Primary auditory cortex

Question 22

Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN)

- Function

Answer 22

Relays auditory information to cortex

Question 23

Ventral Lateral nucleus (VL)

- Type

Answer 23

Relay: Motor

Question 24

Ventral Lateral nucleus (VL) | - Input

Answer 24

Motor pathways from cerebellum and basal ganglia

Question 25

Ventral Lateral nucleus (VL) | - Output

Answer 25

Motor, premotor and supplementary motor cortex

Question 26

Ventral Lateral nucleus (VL) | - Function

Answer 26

Relays motor information from basal ganglia and cerebellum to cortex

Question 27

Ventral Anterior nucleus (VA) | - Type

Answer 27

Relay: motor

Question 28

Ventral Anterior nucleus (VA) | - Input

Answer 28

Motor pathways from cerebellum and basal ganglia

Question 29

Ventral Anterior nucleus (VA) | - Output

Answer 29

Widespread to frontal lobe including motor areas

Question 30

Ventral Anterior nucleus (VA) | - Function

Answer 30

Relays motor information from basal ganglia and cerebellum to cortex

Question 31

Pulvinar (P) | - Type

Answer 31

Association

Question 32

Pulvinar (P) | - Input

Answer 32

Sensory pathways from tectum

Question 33

Pulvinar (P) | - Output

Answer 33

Parieto temporal occipital association complex

Question 34

Pulvinar (P) | - Function

Answer 34

Behavioral orientation to visual stimulus

Question 35

``` Mediodorsal nucleus (MD) - Type ```

Answer 35

Association

Question 36

``` Mediodorsal nucleus (MD) - Input ```

Answer 36

Pathways from limbic structures

Question 37

``` Mediodorsal nucleus (MD) - Output ```

Answer 37

Frontal cortex

Question 38

``` Mediodorsal nucleus (MD) - Function ```

Answer 38

Relay emotional and memory input to cortex

Question 39

``` Anterior nucleus (AN) - Type ```

Answer 39

Association

Question 40

``` Anterior nucleus (AN) - Input ```

Answer 40

Pathways from limbic structures and hippocampus

Question 41

``` Anterior nucleus (AN) - Output ```

Answer 41

Cingulate gyrus

Question 42

``` Anterior nucleus (AN) - Function ```

Answer 42

Relay information within the limbic system