ANAT 321 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Pyramidal Cell, Taschen, White Matter
24 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
The thalamus is a gatekeeper, regulating information flow to the cortex. E. g. visual attention - how we"re able to focus on certain objects and ignore others. The thalamic neurons are also regulated by other inputs - such as feedback from the cortex: also various modulators from the brainstem (?) and midbrain, the reticular thalamic nucleus (gaba) Thalamic neurons are bistable - they exist in two different modes: during wakefulness they are in a transmission mode, in which they fire single action potentials that faithfully relay sensory inputs. The resting membrane potential determines whether a thalamic neuron is in transmission mode or bursting mode. If the resting potential of the neuron is more positive than ~-65mv it is in transmission mode. Acetylcholine projections depolarize thalamic neurons, putting them in the transmission mode. The act is being released into the thalamus during the transition from sleep to wake.
