Thalamus and Hypothalamus Flashcards
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
- Acts as a relay system between the cerebral cortex and the rest of the CNS (both ways)
- Integration and modification of information
- Ipsilateral connections with forebrain
What divides the thalamus into 2?
3rd ventricle
How are the nuclei named in the thalamus?
with respect to relative positioning
Recall the 4 types of thalamic nuclei and their general role
- Specific: connected to primary cortical areas
- Association: connected to association cortex
- Intralaminar: connected to ALL cortical areas
- Reticular: not connected to the cortex
Which thalamic nuclei are connected to the motor cortices?
Ventral lateral and anterior lateral
Which thalamic nuclei are connected to the somatosensory cortices?
Ventral posterolateral and ventral posteromedial
Which thalamic nucleus connects the retina to the primary visual cortex?
Lateral genticulate
Which thalamic nucleus connects the inner ear to the primary auditory cortex?
Medial genticulate
What does the RAS stand for, and what is it composed of?
Reticular Activating System
= intralaminar and reticular nuclei
How do the reticular nuclei of the hypothalamus affect cortical activity?
Activated by projections from the brainstem, and able to influence the flow of information through the nuclei to the cortices
Recall 5 components of the limbic system
Hippocampus, amygdala, cingulate, cortex, septal nuclei
Recall 3 ways in which the hypothalamus coordinates homeostatic mechanisms
ANS, endocrine systems, controlling behaviour
Recall 5 behaviours controlled by the hypothalamus
- Nutritional
- Emotional
- Sexual
- Circadian rhythms
- memory
Recall 2 NTs produced in the hypothalamus that are orexigenic
NPY, ARGP
Into which nuclei are orexigenic peptides projected into in the hypothalamus?
PVN, LHA
