Thalamus Flashcards
Releases melatonin and is controlled by sympathetics.
Pineal (part of epithalamus
Limbic nuclei with projections to the brainstem. Involved in negative reward system.
Habenular nuclei
Which sensory pathways have direct projections to the thalamus?
All except olfaction.
Which thalamic nuclei doesn’t project to the cerebral cortex?
Reticular thalamic nuclei.
Relay nuclei
Receive a specific input from the sensory or motor systems.
Association nuclei
Inputs from multiple parts of the cortex.
What state are thalamic neurons in when they are rhythmically depolarizing, with a burst at the peak of depolarization?
Burst state.
Thalamic nuclei in rapid depolarizations in an excitatory state called?
Tonic mode
Which tier contains mostly relay nuclei?
Ventral
Which tier contains mostly association nuclei?
Dorsal
Involved in the somatosensory system, receives input from medial lemniscus and spinothalamic tract.
Ventral Posterior Lateral Nucleus.
Receives information from the trigeminal system.
Ventral Posterior Medial Nucleus
Involved in planning, initiating, and controlling movement.
Ventral Lateral Nucleus
Involved in only planning and initiation of movement.
Ventral Anterior Nucleus
Input from the visual system, projects to primary visual cortex
Lateral Geniculate
Input from inferior colliculus, projects to Heschel’s gyrus (primary auditory cortex).
Medial Geniculate
Functions in attention and eye movement. (2)
Pulvinar and Lateral Posterior Nuclei
Has a role in learning and emotions
Anterior and lateral dorsal nuclei
Functions in eye-head control and attention
Lateral mediodorsal and Intralaminar Nuclei
Destruction of this nuclei causes memory loss via Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Medial mediodorsal and midline nuclei
Regulates thalamic function and does not project to cerebral cortex
Reticular thalamic nucleus.
