What relays information to the correct area of the brain?
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From other websitesContent disclaimerContent on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Your thalamus is your body’s information relay station. All information from your body’s senses (except smell) must be processed through your thalamus before being sent to your brain’s cerebral cortex for interpretation. Your thalamus also plays a role in sleep, wakefulness, consciousness, learning and memory.
OverviewThe thalamus is complex part of your brain that's known as the relay station of all incoming motor (movement) and sensory information from your body to your brain.What is the thalamus?Your thalamus is an egg-shaped structure in the middle of your brain. It’s known as a relay station of all incoming motor (movement) and sensory information — hearing, taste, sight and touch (but not smell) — from your body to your brain. Like a relay or train station, all information must first pass through your thalamus before being routed or directed to its destination in your brain’s cerebral cortex (the outermost layer of your brain) for further processing and interpretation. FunctionWhat does the thalamus do?Your thalamus has many functions, including:
Your thalamus also contributes to perception and plays a role in sleep and wakefulness. How does your thalamus work?Sensory impulses (“information”) travel through nerve fibers from your body through brain structures to your thalamus. Specialized areas of your thalamus, called nuclei, are each responsible for processing different sensory or motor impulses received from your body and then sending the selected information through nerve fibers to the related area of your cerebral cortex for interpretation. This chart names some of the best known nuclei, their function and to what area of your cerebral cortex the information is ultimately sent.
AnatomyWhere is the thalamus located?Your thalamus lies above your brainstem in the middle of your brain. Although it may look like a single structure, you actually have two, side-by-side thalami, one in each hemisphere (side) of your brain. Being located in this central area — like the central hub on a bike wheel — allows nerve fibers connections (like the bike wheel’s spokes) to reach all areas of your cerebral cortex (the outer layer of your brain). Technically, your thalamus is part of an area of your brain called the diencephalon, which includes your hypothalamus, subthalamus and epithalamus. Conditions and DisordersWhat happens if my thalamus is damaged?Your thalamus is a central relay station for receiving incoming sensory and motor information. Your thalamus then sends this information to other parts of your brain. So, damage to your thalamus can affect many functions. Symptoms of damage to your thalamus include:
Damage to your thalamus can result in:
The main causes of damage to your thalamus include:
What conditions affect the thalamus?Certain conditions that are affected by or damage your thalamus include:
CareIs the thalamus a target for any treatment?The ventral intermediate nucleus of your thalamus is a target for deep brain stimulation for people with Parkinson’s disease that hasn’t been successfully treated with medications. A note from Cleveland Clinic Your thalamus serves as the main relay station for your brain. All motor and sensory signals (except smell) pass through this structure in the center of your brain. Your thalamus is arranged in regions, called nuclei, that each possesses specialization for dealing with that particular information. For example, information coming through your eye travels to your retina, and then onto your optic nerve. It then travels to the lateral geniculate nucleus of your thalamus, which processes the information and sends it to your primary visual cortex for interpretation. The signals are then passed onto your cerebral cortex for interpretation. Your thalamus also plays a role in regulating sleep and wakefulness, and is involved with consciousness. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information
enews More health news + infoWhat relays information to the cerebrum?The thalamus is a symmetrical structure within the brain of vertebrates that includes humans. It is situated between the cerebral cortex and midbrain . functionally the thalamus relays sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, along with the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness.
What is the relay center in your brain called?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.
What type of tissue is relaying the information to your brain?Nervous tissue contains two major cell types, neurons and glial cells. Neurons are the cells responsible for communication through electrical signals.
What relays messages to and from the brain?The spinal cord is an extension of the brain. It carries messages to and from the brain via the network of peripheral nerves connected to it. Nerves also connect the spinal cord to a part of the brain called the brainstem.
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