Deep within the center of the brain lies the thalamus, an egg-shaped region whose many nuclei connect to cortical, subcortical and cerebellar regions. Historically the thalamus has been thought to relay sensory and motor information to the cortex. However, recent studies, across rodents, non-human primates, and humans, have shown the thalamus to play diverse roles in cognitive and mnemonic processes. Given such findings, dissecting the circuit mechanisms through which the thalamus interacts with the rest of the brain promises to yield a more holistic and mechanistic description of complex cognition relevant to humans. Furthermore selective abnormalities in specific thalamic nuclei and their brain-wide connectivity is found across multiple psychiatric disorders. Thus beyond its value to basic science, understanding thalamic network function and dysfunction in brain disorders has high translational and diagnostic utility.
In this context, this Research Topic aims to reveal general principles of cognition dependent on thalamic circuit function and connectivity. It further aims to explore atypical connectivity within thalamic centric networks in psychiatric disorders as potential neuromodulatory targets for therapeutic intervention.
We welcome original research articles, methodological advances, and reviews exploring thalamic connectivity and its dysfunction in brain disorders using animal models or human subjects.
Deep within the center of the brain lies the thalamus, an egg-shaped region whose many nuclei connect to cortical, subcortical and cerebellar regions. Historically the thalamus has been thought to relay sensory and motor information to the cortex. However, recent studies, across rodents, non-human primates, and humans, have shown the thalamus to play diverse roles in cognitive and mnemonic processes. Given such findings, dissecting the circuit mechanisms through which the thalamus interacts with the rest of the brain promises to yield a more holistic and mechanistic description of complex cognition relevant to humans. Furthermore selective abnormalities in specific thalamic nuclei and their brain-wide connectivity is found across multiple psychiatric disorders. Thus beyond its value to basic science, understanding thalamic network function and dysfunction in brain disorders has high translational and diagnostic utility.
In this context, this Research Topic aims to reveal general principles of cognition dependent on thalamic circuit function and connectivity. It further aims to explore atypical connectivity within thalamic centric networks in psychiatric disorders as potential neuromodulatory targets for therapeutic intervention.
We welcome original research articles, methodological advances, and reviews exploring thalamic connectivity and its dysfunction in brain disorders using animal models or human subjects.