Thalamus facts for kids

The thalamus, shown in a brain scan

The thalamus is a special part of your brain. It's found in the brains of animals with backbones, like humans. It sits right in the middle, acting like a bridge between the cerebral cortex (the outer, wrinkly part of your brain) and the midbrain (another part deeper inside).

The thalamus is like a busy control center. It takes in most of the sensory information from your body, like what you see, hear, and touch. It then sends these signals to the right parts of your cerebral cortex so your brain can understand them. It also helps with signals that control movement.

This important brain part also plays a big role in how awake you feel, your sleep patterns, and your overall alertness.

Where is the Thalamus Located?

The thalamus is located above the hypothalamus and below the cerebral cortex. Think of it as being in the central part of your brain. It's not just one single lump; it's actually made up of many small groups of nerve cells called nuclei. Each of these nuclei has different jobs.

The Thalamus as a Relay Station

One of the main jobs of the thalamus is to act as a "relay station." Imagine it like a post office for your senses. When you touch something, see something, or hear a sound, that information travels to the thalamus first. The thalamus then sorts this information. After sorting, it sends the signals to the correct areas of your cerebral cortex for processing.

For example, if you touch a hot stove, the signal about the heat goes to your thalamus. The thalamus quickly sends that signal to the part of your brain that understands touch and pain. The only sense that doesn't go through the thalamus first is smell.

Images for kids

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  The thalamus in a 360° rotation

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  Nuclei of the thalamus

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  The left optic nerve and the optic tracts.

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  Coronal section of lateral and 3rd ventricles.

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  Dissection showing the ventricles of the brain.

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  Section of brain showing upper surface of temporal lobe.

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  Horizontal section of right cerebral hemisphere.

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  Mesal aspect of a brain sectioned in the median sagittal plane.

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  Schematic representation of the chief ganglionic categories (I to V).

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  Scheme showing the course of the fibers of the lemniscus; medial lemniscus in blue, lateral in red.

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  Deep dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.

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  Deep dissection of brain-stem. Ventral view.

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  Coronal section of brain immediately in front of pons.

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  Coronal section of brain through intermediate mass of third ventricle.

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  Human brain frontal (coronal) section

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  Ventricles of brain and basal ganglia. Superior view. Horizontal section. Deep dissection

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  Ventricles of brain and basal ganglia. Superior view. Horizontal section. Deep dissection

See also

In Spanish: Tálamo (sistema nervioso) para niños