Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological...

Hearing

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.

Vision

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.

Gustation

Gustation

Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.

What is a Sensory System?

What is a Sensory System?

Sensory systems detect stimuli—such as light and sound waves—and transduce them into neural signals that can be interpreted by the nervous system. In addition to external stimuli detected by the senses, some sensory systems detect internal stimuli—such as the proprioceptors in muscles and tendons that send feedback about limb position.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Anodal cerebellar tDCS does not alter beta oscillations or corticokinematic coherence in Friedreich's ataxia and healthy participants.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2026

Same author

Adaptation and anticipation mechanisms under unpredictable auditory perturbations: The role of perturbation type, stimulus complexity and cerebellar impairment.

Behavioural brain research·2026

Same author

Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Human Brain: Mechanistic Plausibility, Translational Challenges, and Links to Neurological Disease Trends.

Molecular neurobiology·2026

Same author

Bilateral optic neuritis induced by Adalimumab: A follow-up with visual evoked potentials.

European journal of ophthalmology·2026

Same author

Validation of the SODA in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

Same author

Consensus Paper: Models of Cerebellar Functions.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

Same journal

From Proof-of-Concept to Decision-Grade Cerebellar Neurostimulation: A Precision-and-Governance Pipeline for Globally Scalable Balance Interventions.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

Same journal

Adult-Onset SCAR4 with a 30-Year Slowly Progressive Course: First Combined Assessment with FDG-PET and Brain Perfusion SPECT.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

Same journal

Clinical and Radiological Variability in Episodic Ataxia Type 2: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

Same journal

Trends and Disparities in Mortality from Hereditary Ataxia in United States, 2000-2020: A Retrospective Analysis with Projections to 2050.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

Same journal

Phenotype and Genetics of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 27B: Novel Movement-disorder Features, Cognitive Impairment, and Repeat Expansion Findings.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

Same journal

Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of SCA27B: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cerebellum (London, England)·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Cerebellar Regional Dissection for Molecular Analysis

Cerebellar Regional Dissection for Molecular Analysis

Published on: December 5, 2020

The Cerebellar Thalamus.

Christophe Habas¹, Mario Manto^2,3, Pierre Cabaraux²

¹Service de Neuro-Imagerie, CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, France. chabas@15-20.fr.

Cerebellum (London, England)

|March 4, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The cerebellar thalamus, crucial for forebrain processing, requires further study to understand its motor and associative functions. Renewed interest is needed to explore its role in cortico-cerebello-cortical loops.

Keywords:

Burst Cerebellum Cognition Dynamical system Inverse model Movement Rebound Spike Thalamus Tremor

More Related Videos

Organotypic Cerebellar Cultures: Apoptotic Challenges and Detection

Organotypic Cerebellar Cultures: Apoptotic Challenges and Detection

Published on: May 17, 2011

Laser Nanosurgery of Cerebellar Axons In Vivo

Laser Nanosurgery of Cerebellar Axons In Vivo

Published on: July 28, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Cerebellar Regional Dissection for Molecular Analysis

Cerebellar Regional Dissection for Molecular Analysis

Published on: December 5, 2020

Organotypic Cerebellar Cultures: Apoptotic Challenges and Detection

Organotypic Cerebellar Cultures: Apoptotic Challenges and Detection

Published on: May 17, 2011

Laser Nanosurgery of Cerebellar Axons In Vivo

Laser Nanosurgery of Cerebellar Axons In Vivo

Published on: July 28, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cerebellar and Thalamic Function

Background:

The thalamus integrates forebrain activities and relays information in cortico-cerebello-cortical loops.
Despite its anatomical importance, the specific roles of the cerebellar thalamus remain largely unknown.
The thalamus exhibits diverse electrophysiological responses influencing cortical activity synchronization.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the need for renewed research into the cerebellar thalamus.
To investigate the specific contributions of the cerebellar thalamus to motor and associative functions.
To contextualize the importance of the cerebellar thalamus given recent anatomical revisions concerning the cerebellum and basal ganglia.

Main Methods:

Review of existing anatomical and electrophysiological data on the thalamus and cerebellum.
Emphasis on the significance of cortico-cerebello-cortical loops.
Discussion of the thalamus's electrophysiological properties (neuronal spiking, bursting, oscillatory rhythms).

Main Results:

All cortico-cerebello-cortical loops involve relays within the main thalamic subnuclei.
The thalamus exhibits varied electrophysiological responses critical for shaping and synchronizing cortical activity.
The precise functions of the cerebellar thalamus are not well-defined.

Conclusions:

The cerebellar thalamus is a key, yet understudied, component of brain circuitry.
Further investigation is essential to elucidate its role in cerebellar motor and associative functions.
Understanding the cerebellar thalamus is critical, especially with evolving knowledge of cerebellum-basal ganglia anatomy.