The thalamus is a group of cells placed centrally in the brain that serve a critical role in controlling how both sensory and motor signals are passed from one part of the cerebral cortex to another. Essentially, all information reaching the cerebral cortex and thus consciousness is relayed through the thalamus. The role of the thalamus in controlling the flow of information (such as visual, auditory, and motor) to the cortex has only recently begun to be understood. This book provides an in-depth look at the function of the thalamus and its role as relayer of information to the cerebral cortex. The authors explore how the thalamus controls messages that are passed to the cortex and they introduce the novel suggestion that the thalamus serves a critical role in controlling how messages pass from one part of the cortex to another.
Exploring the Thalamus is a comprehensive, up-to-date reference for researchers. It discusses problems concerning the function and structure of the thalamus and concludes each chapter with thought-provoking questions regarding future research.
- Focuses on thalamocortical interrelationships
- Discusses important problems concerning the function and structure of the thalamus
- Concludes each chapter with thought-provoking questions requiring future research
Practically all information reaching the cerebral cortex, and thus all of the messages that reach consciousness, pass through the thalamus, a centrally placed part of the brain that, in humans, is roughly the size of a walnut. Despite the obvious importance of the thalamus as a relay, its role in controlling the flow of information to the cortex has only recently begun to be understood. In Exploring the Thalamus, two senior neuroscientists whose research careers have focused heavily on the thalamus, have joined forces to provide a view of its role in the dynamic control of information to the cerebral cortex. They provide an innovative and unified account of its functional organization and introduce the novel suggestion that the thalamus serves a critical role in controlling not only how messages pass to the cortex from other parts of the brain, but also how messages pass from one part of the cerebral cortex to another.
Key Features:
* Focuses on thalamocortical interrelationships
* Discusses important problems concerning the function and structure of the thalamus
* Concludes each chapter with thought-provoking questions requiring future research