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Contents loading... Editors loading... Categories loading... When refering to evidence in academic writing, you should always try to reference the primary (original) source. That is usually the journal article where the information was first stated. In most cases Physiopedia articles are a secondary source and so should not be used as references. Physiopedia articles are best used to find the original sources of information (see the references list at the bottom of the article). If you believe that this Physiopedia article is the primary source for the information you are refering to, you can use the button below to access a related citation statement. Introduction[edit | edit source]Rotation: brainstem and thalamus The thalamus serves as the main relay station for the brain. Motor pathways, limbic pathways, and sensory pathways besides olfaction all pass through this central structure.
Image: Animation of rotation, brainstem and thalamus. Functions[edit | edit source]The thalamus is part of the limbic system, the region of the brain largely associated with the emotions and is essential to memory and learning. The thalamus joins a series of other machinery whose purpose is to distill sensory information into a more interpretable and manageable form for higher brain sections. The thalamus is engaged in an intimate relationship with the cerebral cortex, with numerous mutual connections. These connections make up the thalamacortical loop. The thalamus also modulates arousal mechanisms, maintains alertness, and directs attention to sensory events[3]. Functionally, the thalamus divides into five major functional components as:
These specific nuclei are responsible for scanning the cerebral cortex and determining active brain regions (those firing at around 40Hz) then relaying this information to the rest of the thalamus[3]. Thalamus and Injury[edit | edit source]The thalamus contributes to a broad range of critical functions. The side effects of thalamus damage can vary from person to person. Some of the most common side effects of thalamic damage include:
Because the thalamus controls sleep and arousal, severe damage to it can also result in a coma[4]. Physiotherapy Treatment[edit | edit source]Treatment for thalamic damage will revolve around restoring the abilities lost after brain injury. See the pages on Traumatic Brain Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury Clinical Guidelines, Physiotherapy Management of Traumatic Brain Injury, Physical Activity Guidelines for Traumatic Brain Injury. What is the Mind?[edit | edit source]Think about how the physical structure of the brain creates the metaphysical structure known as the mind. Our thoughts are more than compilations of sensory inputs from the visual world, auditory world, olfactory world, tactile world and the world of taste. There is a long list of memories charged with emotional content that flavour our thoughts.
References[edit | edit source]
What part of the brain relays information from the senses?Thalamus: The thalamus is the relay center of the brain. It receives afferent impulses from sensory receptors located throughout the body and processes the information for distribution to the appropriate cortical area. It is also responsible for regulating consciousness and sleep.
Which area of the brain acts as a relay station?Thalamus is the part of the forebrain. It is known as relay centre because it performs relaying of motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex. It is a small structure that is situated between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain.
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