Sabine Kastner, Yuri B Saalmann, and Keith A Schneider
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780195334364
- eISBN:
- 9780199932283
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195334364.003.0003
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter discusses thalamocortical interactions, an understanding of which is central to understanding perception and cognition. The visual thalamus consists of three main nuclei: the lateral ...
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This chapter discusses thalamocortical interactions, an understanding of which is central to understanding perception and cognition. The visual thalamus consists of three main nuclei: the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), and the pulvinar. The LGN is the thalamic station in the retinocortical projection and has traditionally been viewed as the gateway to the visual cortex. The TRN forms a thin shell of neurons surrounding the thalamus and providing an interface between the thalamus and cortex in that thalamocortical and (layer 6) corticothalamic projections also have collateral branches to the TRN. The pulvinar is a large nucleus located in the dorsal thalamus. It contains several visual maps that are reciprocally connected to striate and extrastriate cortex, in addition to being substantially interconnected with frontal and parietal cortex.Less
This chapter discusses thalamocortical interactions, an understanding of which is central to understanding perception and cognition. The visual thalamus consists of three main nuclei: the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), and the pulvinar. The LGN is the thalamic station in the retinocortical projection and has traditionally been viewed as the gateway to the visual cortex. The TRN forms a thin shell of neurons surrounding the thalamus and providing an interface between the thalamus and cortex in that thalamocortical and (layer 6) corticothalamic projections also have collateral branches to the TRN. The pulvinar is a large nucleus located in the dorsal thalamus. It contains several visual maps that are reciprocally connected to striate and extrastriate cortex, in addition to being substantially interconnected with frontal and parietal cortex.
Luiz Pessoa
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780262019569
- eISBN:
- 9780262314756
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262019569.003.0003
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience
The evidence reviewed in this chapter suggests that the idea of a subcortical pathway specialized for the processing of emotional visual stimuli as maintained by the “standard hypothesis” is much in ...
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The evidence reviewed in this chapter suggests that the idea of a subcortical pathway specialized for the processing of emotional visual stimuli as maintained by the “standard hypothesis” is much in need of revision. The chapter describes the multiple waves model, which has several implications for the characterization of amygdala function in the processing of emotional visual information. The amygdala plays significant functions in a wide array of networks. Though the precise contribution of the amygdala in these networks is still unknown, it does not map specifically onto emotion but, instead, corresponds to broader and more abstract dimensions of information processing, including salience, ambiguity, unpredictability, and other aspects of biological value. The chapter also describes the anatomy and physiology of the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus, and specifies how this structure is important for emotional processing.Less
The evidence reviewed in this chapter suggests that the idea of a subcortical pathway specialized for the processing of emotional visual stimuli as maintained by the “standard hypothesis” is much in need of revision. The chapter describes the multiple waves model, which has several implications for the characterization of amygdala function in the processing of emotional visual information. The amygdala plays significant functions in a wide array of networks. Though the precise contribution of the amygdala in these networks is still unknown, it does not map specifically onto emotion but, instead, corresponds to broader and more abstract dimensions of information processing, including salience, ambiguity, unpredictability, and other aspects of biological value. The chapter also describes the anatomy and physiology of the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus, and specifies how this structure is important for emotional processing.
