Thalamus

Question 1

Subcortical Gray Matter

Answer 1

Composed of cell bodies

Synaptic connections will be housed here

Question 2

Thalamus

Answer 2

Processing station where information is organized before being transmitted to cerebral cortex

Question 3

Thalamus

Answer 3

Receives sensory input except olfactory
Transmission of conscious awareness of pain, touch and temperature
Receives and processes all internal motor systems
Helps modulate and plan motor movements

Question 4

Thalamus Functions

Answer 4

General arousal via reticular connections
Sensory connections via spinal cord and brain stem
Motor connections via basal ganglia and cerebellum
Emotional tone/affect via limbic system and prefrontal lobe connections

Question 5

Anterior Nuclei of Thalamus

Answer 5

Affective expressions (outward appearance of emotions)
Projects to limbic and frontal cortex (regulating behavior and function)

Question 6

Medial Nuclei of Thalamus

Answer 6

Relay to reticular formation

Question 7

Lateral Nuclei of Thalamus

Answer 7

Important for motor function

Involved with motor loops

Question 8

Posterior Nuclei of Thalamus

Answer 8

Involved with sensory relay

Question 9

Limbic Lobe (Anterior Nucleus)

Answer 9

Contribute to emotional tone

Question 10

Dorsomedial Nucleus (Prefrontal lobe)

Answer 10

Relays information to and from prefrontal lobe

Contribute to judgment, reasoning and executive function

Question 11

Ventral Anterior Nucleus

Answer 11

Relays information from basal ganglia/cerebellum to premotor areas and M1
Important for motor planning/regulation

Question 12

Ventral Lateral Nucleus

Answer 12

Relays information from basal ganglia to M1 and premotor areas
Important for motor output regulation

Question 13

Ventral Posterior Nucleus

Answer 13

Relays information to sensory areas of cortex

Question 14

VPM and VPL

Answer 14

Relay somatosensory information to cortex

Question 15

VPI

Answer 15

Relay vestibular information to cortex

Question 16

Pulvinar Nucleus

Answer 16

Relays information among different cortical areas

Question 17

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Answer 17

Relays visual information to primary visual cortex

Question 18

Medial Geniculate Nucleus

Answer 18

Relays auditory information to primary auditory cortex

Question 19

Intralaminar, centromedian and midline nuclei

Answer 19

Relay arousal information from reticular system

Question 20

Internal Capsule

Answer 20

Delivers subcortical structure between basal ganglia

Question 21

Anterior Internal Capsule

Answer 21

Affective

Question 22

Genu Internal Capsule

Answer 22

Motor

Question 23

Posterior Internal Capsule

Answer 23

Motor

Sensory

Question 24

Frontopontine

Answer 24

From frontal cortex to cerebellum, then relays to pons

Question 25

Motor

Answer 25

From motor cortex and planning areas, then relays down through internal capsule to brain and spinal cord

Question 26

Sensory

Answer 26

Synapses in thalamus and relays to different sensory cortices

Question 27

Thalamic Pain Syndrome

Answer 27

Infarct in VPL (processes pain information)

Question 28

Thalamic Pain Syndrome Symptoms

Answer 28

Experience spontaneous burning pain and other abnormal sensations
Response to normal input is abnormal (perceived as painful, but it’s not painful)
Location/intensity of pain varies

Question 29

Thalamic Pain Syndrome Treatment

Answer 29

Narcotic analgesic
Antidepressant meds
Antiseizure meds