Thalamus plays a central role in ongoing cortical functioning
Abstract
Several challenges to current views of thalamocortical processing are offered here. Glutamatergic pathways in thalamus and cortex are divided into two distinct classes: driver and modulator. We suggest that driver inputs are the main conduits of information and that modulator inputs modify how driver inputs are processed. Different driver sources reveal two types of thalamic relays: first order relays receive subcortical driver input (for example, retinal input to the lateral geniculate nucleus), whereas higher order relays (for example, pulvinar) receive driver input from layer 5 of cortex and participate in cortico-thalamo-cortical (or transthalamic) circuits. These transthalamic circuits represent an unappreciated aspect of cortical functioning, which I discuss here. Direct corticocortical connections are often paralleled by transthalamic ones. Furthermore, driver inputs to thalamus, both first and higher order, typically arrive via branching axons, and the transthalamic branch often innervates subcortical motor centers, leading to the suggestion that these inputs to thalamus serve as efference copies.
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Basal ganglia, parietal cortex, and thalamus support procedural learning, visuospatial coordination, and sensory integration.
“Furthermore, structures such as the basal ganglia, parietal cortex, and thalamus support procedural learning, visuospatial coordination, and sensory integration (Corbetta and Shulman, 2002; Doya, 2008; Sherman, 2016).”
From Enhancement of modern defense capabilities by convergence of cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence (2026) · cites this paper as Sherman, 2016
Sensory cortices relay and prioritize sensory information, maintaining processing efficiency under overload.
“and Sensory Cortices relay, and prioritize sensory information, maintaining processing efficiency under overload (Sherman, 2016).”
From Enhancement of modern defense capabilities by convergence of cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence (2026) · cites this paper as Sherman, 2016
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“Furthermore, structures such as the basal ganglia, parietal cortex, and thalamus support procedural learning, visuospatial coordination, and sensory integration (Corbetta and Shulman, 2002; Doya, 2008; Sherman, 2016).”
- Authors
- Sherman, S. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sherman, S Murray
- ORCID
- Sherman, S Murray
- Venue
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2016-03-29
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 533-541
- ISSN
- 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1726
- OpenAlex
- W2317325433
- Cited by
- 809
- References
- 88
- Citations by year
- 2026: 85 · 2025: 92 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 81 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 101 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 79 · 2018: 97 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 14
- FWCI
- 8.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Eye Institute (R01EY022338, EY-022338)
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (R01DC008794, DC-008794)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Keywords
- thalamus, thalamocortical system, efference copy, glutamatergic pathways, lateral geniculate nucleus, pulvinar, thalamic connectivity
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cerebral Cortex, Humans, Nerve Net, Neural Pathways, Thalamus, Glutamic Acid
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