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Cited by 994Neural dynamics and brain functionMemory and Neural MechanismsPhilosophy and Theoretical Science

The intralaminar and midline nuclei of the thalamus. Anatomical and functional evidence for participation in processes of arousal and awareness

Van der Werf, Ysbrand D, Witter, Menno P, Groenewegen, Henk J·2002·Brain Research Reviews
DOI 10.1016/s0165-0173(02)00181-9
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Abstract

The thalamic midline and intralaminar nuclei, long thought to be a non-specific arousing system in the brain, have been shown to be involved in separate and specific brain functions, such as specific cognitive, sensory and motor functions. Fundamental to the participation of the midline and intralaminar nuclei in such diverse functions seems to be a role in awareness. It is unknown whether the midline and intralaminar nuclei, together often referred to as the 'non-specific' nuclei of the thalamus, act together or whether each nucleus is involved idiosyncratically in separate circuits underlying cortical processes. Detailed knowledge of the connectivity of each of these nuclei is needed to judge the nature of their contribution to cortical functioning. The present account provides an overview of the results of neuroanatomical tracing studies on the connections of the individual intralaminar and midline thalamic nuclei in the rat, that have been performed over the past decade in our laboratory. The results are discussed together with those reported by other laboratories, and with those obtained in other species. On the basis of the patterns of the afferent and efferent projections, we conclude that the midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei can be clustered into four groups. Each of the groups can be shown to have its own set of target and input structures, both cortically and subcortically. These anatomical relationships, in combination with functional studies in animals and in humans, lead us to propose that the midline and intralaminar nuclei as a whole play a role in awareness, with each of the groups subserving a role in a different aspect of awareness. The following groups can be discerned: (1) a dorsal group, consisting of the paraventricular, parataenial and intermediodorsal nuclei, involved in viscero-limbic functions; (2) a lateral group, comprising the central lateral and paracentral nuclei and the anterior part of the central medial nucleus, involved in cognitive functions; (3) a ventral group, made up of the reuniens and rhomboid nucleus and the posterior part of the central medial nucleus, involved in multimodal sensory processing; (4) a posterior group, consisting of the centre médian and parafascicular nuclei, involved in limbic motor functions.

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  • The prefrontal pathway is composed of the medial, orbital and lateral prefrontal cortical areas (including PL, ILA, ORB and AI) and many of the medial, midline, and intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus (including MD, VM, AM, PVT, CM, RH, RE and PF).

    “The prefrontal pathway, which is considered to play major roles in cognitive and executive functions, is composed of the medial, orbital and lateral prefrontal cortical areas (including PL, ILA, ORB and AI) and many of the medial, midline, and intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus (including MD, VM, AM, PVT, CM, RH, RE and PF)111.”

    From A mesoscale connectome of the mouse brain (2014) · cites this paper as [111]

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Authors
Van der Werf, Y. D., Witter, M. P., & Groenewegen, H. J.
Affiliations
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Brain Research Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2002-09
Volume
39
Issue
2-3
Pages
107-140
ISSN
0165-0173 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0165-0173(02)00181-9
OpenAlex
W1998722012
Cited by
994
References
171
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 64 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 45
FWCI
1.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Brain Research Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
Keywords
arousal, awareness, thalamic connectivity, paraventricular nucleus, central lateral nucleus, nucleus reuniens, parafascicular nucleus, cognitive function, sensory processing, rats
MeSH terms
Animals, Arousal, Awareness, Humans, Midline Thalamic Nuclei, Intralaminar Thalamic Nuclei

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