Nucleus · one in each half of the brain
Pulvinar
The thalamus's big back cushion, a spotlight that helps pick what you look at.
The pulvinar is the cushion-shaped nucleus that forms the rounded back end of the thalamus. Instead of relaying one sense, it trades signals with many visual and attention areas of the cortex. It seems to help steer attention and filter out distractions.
Where it is
At the back end of the thalamus, overhanging the top of the brainstem like a pillow.
What it does
Attention spotlight
It helps pick out what matters in a busy scene and bring it into focus.
Filtering distractions
It helps you ignore things that do not matter right now, like movement at the edge of your view while you read.
Shifting attention
It helps you shift your attention toward things in view, whether or not you move your eyes.
Think of it as a stage lighting technician, swinging the spotlight onto whatever matters most in the scene.
Works with
- Superior colliculusAn ancient visual center that sends it signals about where things are.
- Primary visual cortexTrades signals with it, helping decide what gets attention.
- Lateral occipital cortexA visual area for recognizing objects that receives its signals.
- Angular gyrus regionWorks with it to direct attention in space.
- Lateral posterior nucleus of the thalamusIts neighbor on the upper back part of the thalamus.
When it goes wrong
Attention problems
Damage here can make it harder to focus on a target when distractions are around.
For learning only, not medical advice. If you have a health concern, talk to a doctor.
Surprising facts
- In monkeys, briefly quieting the pulvinar made it harder to shift attention, while boosting its activity made shifting easier.
Where the name comes from
Latin for "cushion" or "cushioned couch". In ancient Rome, a pulvinar was a padded couch for statues of the gods, and this nucleus looks like a pillow at the back of the thalamus.
Learn it in a lesson
- The thalamusThe brain's relay station. A short guided lesson in 3D.
Quick quiz
3 questions. Your answers are saved and come back in your daily review.
Which of these is a job of the pulvinar?
Show the answer
Attention spotlight. It helps pick out what matters in a busy scene and bring it into focus.
Attention spotlight. It helps pick out what matters in a busy scene and bring it into focus.
The pulvinar is part of which larger structure?
Show the answer
Thalamus. It belongs to the thalamus.
Thalamus. It belongs to the thalamus.
Which part fits this description? "Like a stage lighting technician, swinging the spotlight onto whatever matters most in the scene."
Show the answer
Pulvinar. It is the pulvinar. The thalamus's big back cushion, a spotlight that helps pick what you look at.
Pulvinar. It is the pulvinar. The thalamus's big back cushion, a spotlight that helps pick what you look at.
These parts now come back in your daily review, just before you would forget them.
Practice it and its neighbors in 3DSources
- 19.2 How is Attention Implemented in the Brain?, OpenStax, Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
- Thalamic nuclei: Connections, functions and anatomy, Kenhub
- pulvinar (Lewis and Short, A Latin Dictionary), Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University
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Explore the pulvinar in 3D
Turn it around, zoom inside and see how it connects to the rest of the brain, then test yourself with quick quizzes.
Open it in 3D