Lesson 10 of 13 · about 5 minutes

The thalamus

The brain's relay station.

In the 3D app, the brain flies to each part as you read, and 2 quick questions at the end help it stick. Here is the whole lesson to read.

1
Grand central station
Almost every sense except smell stops at the thalamus before it reaches the cortex.
More about the thalamus →
2
Touch
The ventral posterior nucleus relays touch, pain and temperature to the sensory strip.
More about the ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus →
3
Movement
The ventral lateral nucleus passes signals from the cerebellum and basal ganglia on to the motor cortex.
More about the ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus →
4
Sight and sound
The lateral geniculate nucleus relays vision; the medial geniculate beside it relays hearing.
More about the lateral geniculate nucleus →
5
Attention
The large pulvinar at the back helps steer your attention to what matters in what you see.
More about the pulvinar →
6
Thinking
The mediodorsal nucleus works with the prefrontal cortex on planning and holding things in mind.
More about the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus →