Download or read book Exploring the Thalamus and Its Role in Cortical Function written by S. Murray Sherman and published by MIT Press (MA). This book was released on 2006 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The thalamus plays a critical role in perceptual processing, but many questions remain about what thalamic activities contribute to sensory and motor functions. In this book, two pioneers in research on the thalamus examine the close two-way relationships between thalamus and cerebral cortex and look at the distinctive functions of the links between the thalamus and the rest of the brain. Countering the dominant "corticocentric" approach to understanding the cerebral cortex—which does not recognize that all neocortical areas receive important inputs from the thalamus and send outputs to lower motor centers—S. Murray Sherman and R. W. Guillery argue for a reappraisal of the way we think about the cortex and its interactions with the rest of the brain. The book defines some of the functional categories critical to understanding thalamic functions, including the distinctions between drivers (pathways that carry messages to the cortex) and modulators (which can change the pattern of transmission) and between first-order and higher-order thalamic relays—the former receiving ascending drivers and the latter receiving cortical drivers. This second edition further develops these distinctions with expanded emphasis throughout the book on the role of the thalamus in cortical function. An important new chapter suggests a structural basis for linking perception and action, supplying supporting evidence for a link often overlooked in current views of perceptual processing.

Download or read book Functional Connections of Cortical Areas written by S. Murray Sherman and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2013-08-09 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two leading authorities on thalamocortical connections consider how the neural circuits of the brain relate to our actions and perceptions. In this book, two leading authorities on the thalamus and its relationship to cortex build on their earlier findings to arrive at new ways of thinking about how the brain relates to the world, to cognition, and behavior. Based on foundations established earlier in their book Exploring the Thalamus and Its Role in Cortical Function, the authors consider the implications of these ground rules for thalamic inputs, thalamocortical connections, and cortical outputs. The authors argue that functional and structural analyses of pathways connecting thalamus and cortex point beyond these to lower centers and through them to the body and the world. Each cortical area depends on the messages linking it to body and world. These messages relate to the way we act and think; each cortical area receives thalamic inputs and has outputs to motor centers. Sherman and Guillery go on to discuss such topics as the role of branching axons that carry motor instructions as well as copies of these motor instructions for relay to cortex under the control of the thalamic gate. This gate allows the thalamus to control the passage of information on the basis of which cortex relates to the rest of the nervous system.

Download or read book Cortical Function a View from the Thalamus written by V. A. Casagrande and published by Gulf Professional Publishing. This book was released on 2005-10-17 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Almost all of the messages that are received by the cerebral cortex from the environment or from the body's internal receptors come through the thalamus and much current thought about perceptual processing is based on sensory pathways that relay in the thalamus. This volume focuses on three major areas: the role of thalamocortical communication in cognition and attention; the role of the thalamus in communication between cortical areas; the hypothesis that much or all of the information relayed by thalamus, even to classical, pure "sensory" areas of cortex, represents a corollary message being sent simultaneously to motor centers. It presents a broad overview of important recent advances in these areas. * Provides a look at brain structures involved in perception and action * Includes summaries by leading investigators in the field * Presents recent advances in our understanding of brain functions

Download or read book Exploring the Thalamus written by S. Murray Sherman and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2001 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The thalamus is a group of cells placed centrally in the brain that serve a critical role in controlling how both sensory and motor signals are passed from one part of the cerebral cortex to another. Essentially, all information reaching the cerebral cortex and thus consciousness is relayed through the thalamus. The role of the thalamus in controlling the flow of information (such as visual, auditory, and motor) to the cortex has only recently begun to be understood. This book provides an in-depth look at the function of the thalamus and its role as relayer of information to the cerebral cortex. The authors explore how the thalamus controls messages that are passed to the cortex and they introduce the novel suggestion that the thalamus serves a critical role in controlling how messages pass from one part of the cortex to another. Exploring the Thalamus is a comprehensive, up-to-date reference for researchers. It discusses problems concerning the function and structure of the thalamus and concludes each chapter with thought-provoking questions regarding future research. Focuses on thalamocortical interrelationships Discusses important problems concerning the function and structure of the thalamus Concludes each chapter with thought-provoking questions requiring future research

Download or read book Discovering the Brain written by National Academy of Sciences and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1992-01-01 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."

Download or read book Thalamic Function Beyond a Simple Relay written by Vincenzo Crunelli and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2016-05-20 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The thalamus is often described as a relay. Typified by sensory pathways, this concept leads to thalamic nuclei being viewed as areas that passively streams information from a single source to the cortex, without affecting the nature of that information. However, diverse intrathalamic connections, the varying synaptic and membrane properties of thalamic neurons and the large number of inputs from non-sensory sources make the idea that the thalamus is just a passive relay unlikely. Furthermore, a large number of thalamic nuclei are not primarily driven by sensory signals nor do they exclusively target the cortex, meaning the thalamus must do more than simply pass sensory signals to the cortex. Finally, there is a wealth of research demonstrating that the thalamus does indeed function in ways that are not captured by the concept of a simple relay. So why, given all of this, is the primary paradigm for describing the thalamus, a relay? This Research Topic covers original research, reviews and hypotheses on thalamic function that explore the concept that the thalamus performs computational tasks other than simply passively relaying information.

Download or read book Exploring Thalamocortical Interactions written by S. Murray Sherman and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021-11-12 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: CELL TYPES IN THE THALAMUS AND CORTEX -- INTRINSIC MEMBRANE PROPERTIES -- SYNAPTIC PROPERTIES -- GLUTAMATERGIC DRIVERS AND MODULATORS -- FIRST AND HIGHER ORDER THALAMIC RELAYS -- THALAMIC CIRCUITRY -- BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CORTICAL ORGANIZATION -- CLASSIFICATION OF THALAMOCORTICAL AND CORTICOTHALAMIC MOTIFS -- SPIKE TIMING AND THALAMOCORTICAL INTERACTIONS -- PARALLEL PROCESSING OF SENSORY SIGNALS TO CORTEX -- THALAMOCORTICAL SUBSTRATES OF ATTENTION -- CORTICOTHALAMIC CIRCUITS LINKING SENSATION AND ACTION.

Download or read book Development and Plasticity in Sensory Thalamus and Cortex written by Reha Erzurumlu and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-10-28 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides an update on the multitude of technical and experimental approaches in understanding the development and plasticity of the mammalian sensory thalamus and neocortex. The focus is on visual and somatosensory thalamus and neocortex in rodents and carnivores, and functional imaging studies in developing and aging human neocortex. It further provides a synthetic theoretical framework for future studies.

Download or read book The Claustrum written by John R. Smythies and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2013-11-11 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The present day is witnessing an explosion of our understanding of how the brain works at all levels, in which complexity is piled on complexity, and mechanisms of astonishing elegance are being continually discovered. This process is most developed in the major areas of the brain, such as the cortex, thalamus, and striatum. The Claustrum instead focuses on a small, remote, and, until recently, relatively unknown area of the brain. In recent years, researchers have come to believe that the claustrum is concerned with consciousness, a bold hypothesis supported by the claustrum’s two-way connections with nearly every other region of the brain and its seeming involvement with multisensory integrations—the hallmark of consciousness. The claustrum, previously in a humble position at the back of the stage, might in fact be the conductor of the brain’s orchestra. The Claustrum brings together leading experts on the claustrum from the varied disciplines of neuroscience, providing a state-of-the-art presentation of what is currently known about the claustrum, promising lines of current research (including epigenetics), and projections of new lines of investigation on the horizon. Develops a unifying hypothesis about the claustrum’s role in consciousness, as well as the integration of sensory information and other higher brain functions Discusses the involvement of the claustrum with autism, schizophrenia, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease Coverage of all aspects of the claustrum, from its evolution and development to promising new lines of research, including epigenetics, provides a platform and point of reference for future investigative efforts

Download or read book Handbook of Brain Microcircuits written by Gordon M. Shepherd and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 625 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In order to focus on principles, each chapter in this work is brief, organized around 1-3 wiring diagrams of the key circuits, with several pages of text that distil the functional significance of each microcircuit

Download or read book The Brain and Behavior written by David L. Clark and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2005-09-08 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New edition building on the success of previous one. Retains core aim of providing an accessible introduction to behavioral neuroanatomy.

Download or read book The Cognitive Thalamus written by Yuri B. Saalmann and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2015-06-17 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cognitive processing is commonly conceptualized as being restricted to the cerebral cortex. Accordingly, electrophysiology, neuroimaging and lesion studies involving human and animal subjects have almost exclusively focused on defining roles for cerebral cortical areas in cognition. Roles for the thalamus in cognition have been largely ignored despite the fact that the extensive connectivity between the thalamus and cerebral cortex gives rise to a closely coupled thalamo-cortical system. However, in recent years, growing interest in the thalamus as much more than a passive sensory structure, as well as methodological advances such as high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging of the thalamus and improved electrode targeting to subregions of thalamic nuclei using electrical stimulation and diffusion tensor imaging, have fostered research into thalamic contributions to cognition. Evidence suggests that behavioral context modulates processing in primary sensory, or first-order, thalamic nuclei (for example, the lateral geniculate and ventral posterior nuclei), allowing attentional filtering of incoming sensory information at an early stage of brain processing. Behavioral context appears to more strongly influence higher-order thalamic nuclei (for example, the pulvinar and mediodorsal nucleus), which receive major input from the cortex rather than the sensory periphery. Such higher-order thalamic nuclei have been shown to regulate information transmission in frontal and higher-order sensory cortex according to cognitive demands. This Research Topic aims to bring together neuroscientists who study different parts of the thalamus, particularly thalamic nuclei other than the primary sensory relays, and highlight the thalamic contributions to attention, memory, reward processing, decision-making, and language. By doing so, an emphasis is also placed on neural mechanisms common to many, if not all, of these cognitive operations, such as thalamo-cortical interactions and modulatory influences from sources in the brainstem and basal ganglia. The overall view that emerges is that the thalamus is a vital node in brain networks supporting cognition.

Download or read book Ocular and Visual Physiology written by Simon E. Skalicky and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-11-03 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book meets the growing demand among ophthalmologists, optometrists and orthoptists, in training and in practice, as well as visual neuroscientists, to have a clear, succinct and well-written textbook to objectively cover the subject of ocular and visual physiology. Ocular and visual physiology is a core knowledge component for these disciplines, and yet is often difficult to understand. However, this book clearly conveys the simple elegance of the relationship between structure and function that is the hallmark of understanding the physiology of the eye and visual system. Ocular and Visual Physiology – Clinical Application is essential reading for any one hoping to have a clear understanding of the subject. Students will find it a great resource to pass their exams. Each of the chapters has been independently reviewed and edited by an expert in the field with a clinical or visual scientific academic background. The text is based on the latest publications in peer-reviewed journals that are closely referenced within the body of the text.

Download or read book Netter s Atlas of Neuroscience written by David L. Felten and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2015-11-30 with total page 499 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ideal for students of neuroscience and neuroanatomy, the new edition of Netter's Atlas of Neuroscience combines the didactic well-loved illustrations of Dr. Frank Netter with succinct text and clinical points, providing a highly visual, clinically oriented guide to the most important topics in this subject. The logically organized content presents neuroscience from three perspectives: an overview of the nervous system, regional neuroscience, and systemic neuroscience, enabling you to review complex neural structures and systems from different contexts. You may also be interested in: A companion set of flash cards, Netter's Neuroscience Flash Cards, 3rd Edition, to which the textbook is cross-referenced. Coverage of both regional and systemic neurosciences allows you to learn structure and function in different and important contexts. Combines the precision and beauty of Netter and Netter-style illustrations to highlight key neuroanatomical concepts and clinical correlations. Reflects the current understanding of the neural components and supportive tissue, regions, and systems of the brain, spinal cord, and periphery. Uniquely informative drawings provide a quick and memorable overview of anatomy, function, and clinical relevance. Succinct and useful format utilizes tables and short text to offer easily accessible "at-a-glance" information. Provides an overview of the basic features of the spinal cord, brain, and peripheral nervous system, the vasculature, meninges and cerebrospinal fluid, and basic development. Integrates the peripheral and central aspects of the nervous system. Bridges neuroanatomy and neurology through the use of correlative radiographs. Highlights cross-sectional brain stem anatomy and side-by-side comparisons of horizontal sections, CTs and MRIs. Features video of radiograph sequences and 3D reconstructions to enhance your understanding of the nervous system. Student Consult eBook version included with purchase. This enhanced eBook experience includes access -- on a variety of devices -- to the complete text, 14 videos, and images from the book. Expanded coverage of cellular and molecular neuroscience provides essential guidance on signaling, transcription factors, stem cells, evoked potentials, neuronal and glial function, and a number of molecular breakthroughs for a better understanding of normal and pathologic conditions of the nervous system. Micrographs, radiologic imaging, and stained cross sections supplement illustrations for a comprehensive visual understanding. Increased clinical points -- from sleep disorders and inflammation in the CNS to the biology of seizures and the mechanisms of Alzheimer's -- offer concise insights that bridge basic neuroscience and clinical application.

Download or read book Connectivity and Functional Specialization in the Brain written by Thomas Heinbockel and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2021-06-02 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘Connectivity and Functional Specialization in the Brain’ is a topic that describes nerve cells in terms of their anatomical and functional connections. The term connectome refers to a comprehensive map of neural connections, like a wiring diagram of an organism’s nervous system. Connectomics, the study of connectomes, can be applied to individual neurons and their synaptic connections, as well as to connections between neuronal populations or to functional and structural connectivity of different brain regions. This book addresses neural connectivity at these various scales in health and disease. The chapters review novel findings related to neuroanatomy and cell biology, neurophysiology, neural plasticity, changes of connectivity in neurological disorders, and sensory system connectivity. The book provides the reader with an overview of the current state-of-the-art of research of neural connectivity and focuses on the most important evidence-based developments in this area. Individual chapters focus on recent advances in specific areas of neural connectivity and in different brain regions. All chapters represent recent contributions to the rapidly developing field of neural connectivity.

Download or read book The Superior Colliculus written by William C. Hall and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2003-09-25 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Superior Colliculus: New Approaches for Studying Sensorimotor Integration discusses new experimental and theoretical approaches to investigating how the brain transforms sensory signals into the motor commands that are used to shift the direction of gaze. The material includes the potential models for sensorimotor integration in the primate bra

Download or read book The Parietal Lobe written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2018-03-05 with total page 606 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Parietal Lobe, Volume 151, the latest release from the Handbook of Clinical Neurology series, provides a foundation on the neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and clinical neurology/neuropsychology of the parietal lobe that is not only applicable to both basic researchers and clinicians, but also to students and specialists who are interested in learning more about disorders brought on by damage or dysfunction. Topics encompass the evolution, anatomy, connections, and neurophysiology, the major neurological and neuropsychological deficits and syndromes caused by damage, the potential for improvement via transcranial stimulation, and the role of the parietal in the cerebral networks for perception and action. Provides a broad overview of the neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and clinical neurology of this region of the cortex Offers additional insights regarding the role of the parietal in the cerebral networks for perception and action Addresses the most frequent complications associated with damage, including somatosensory, perceptual, language, and memory, deficits, pain, optic ataxia, spatial neglect, apraxia, and more Edited work with chapters authored by global leaders in the field Presents the broadest, most expert coverage available