Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

3.4K
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...
3.4K
Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

2.9K
The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...
2.9K
Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation01:13

Functional Brain Systems: Reticular Formation

3.8K
The reticular formation is a complex network of gray and white matter located within the brainstem extending from the medulla to the midbrain.
Within the reticular formation, there are several distinct nuclei that can be classified into three broad categories. The Raphe nuclei are located along the midline of the brainstem. They are primarily known for their role in synthesizing and releasing serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, appetite, sleep, and circadian rhythms. The...
3.8K
Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions01:30

Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions

4.3K
The diencephalon, etymologically translated as 'through brain,' plays an integral role as the conduit between the cerebrum and the vast extent of the nervous system. However, the olfactory system is an exception, as it interfaces directly with the cerebrum. The diencephalon, deeply ensconced beneath the cerebrum, primarily consists of three paired structures — the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithelamus. It also includes accessory structures such as the subthalamus, which houses the...
4.3K
The Vestibular System01:29

The Vestibular System

43.0K
The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.
43.0K
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

6.4K
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
6.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Beyond seizure control: Identifying deficits in cognitive networks in absence epilepsy.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Make it fun but keep it simple: EEG reveals the impact of easy yet engaging games for stroke rehabilitation.

Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation·2026
Same author

Next-generation multicolor indicators for in vivo imaging of norepinephrine.

Nature methods·2026
Same author

Disrupted Development of the mPFC-Thalamic Circuit in Shank3<sup>-/-</sup> mice, an autism-associated model.

Molecular psychiatry·2025
Same author

Autophagy regulates PVALB (parvalbumin) interneuron excitability and memory.

Autophagy·2025
Same author

Circadian synchronization differentially modifies cytokine-mediated transcriptomic remodeling and cell death in INS-1 cells and mouse islets.

iScience·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 18, 2025

In Vivo Intracerebral Stereotaxic Injections for Optogenetic Stimulation of Long-Range Inputs in Mouse Brain Slices
09:07

In Vivo Intracerebral Stereotaxic Injections for Optogenetic Stimulation of Long-Range Inputs in Mouse Brain Slices

Published on: September 20, 2019

12.0K

A Thalamic Reticular Circuit for Head Direction Cell Tuning and Spatial Navigation.

Gil Vantomme1, Zita Rovó1, Romain Cardis1

  • 1Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 9, 1005 Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.

Cell Reports
|June 11, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered how the brain integrates external cues and internal head-direction (HD) signals for spatial navigation. This involves a pathway to the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), influencing navigation strategies.

Keywords:
allocentricanterior thalamusburst dischargechemogeneticsegocentricoptogeneticsperseverancepresubiculumretrosplenial cortexsynaptic inhibition

More Related Videos

A Video Demonstration of Preserved Piloting by Scent Tracking but Impaired Dead Reckoning After Fimbria-Fornix Lesions in the Rat
08:37

A Video Demonstration of Preserved Piloting by Scent Tracking but Impaired Dead Reckoning After Fimbria-Fornix Lesions in the Rat

Published on: April 24, 2009

12.2K
An Open-Source Virtual Reality System for the Measurement of Spatial Learning in Head-Restrained Mice
08:59

An Open-Source Virtual Reality System for the Measurement of Spatial Learning in Head-Restrained Mice

Published on: March 3, 2023

2.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 18, 2025

In Vivo Intracerebral Stereotaxic Injections for Optogenetic Stimulation of Long-Range Inputs in Mouse Brain Slices
09:07

In Vivo Intracerebral Stereotaxic Injections for Optogenetic Stimulation of Long-Range Inputs in Mouse Brain Slices

Published on: September 20, 2019

12.0K
A Video Demonstration of Preserved Piloting by Scent Tracking but Impaired Dead Reckoning After Fimbria-Fornix Lesions in the Rat
08:37

A Video Demonstration of Preserved Piloting by Scent Tracking but Impaired Dead Reckoning After Fimbria-Fornix Lesions in the Rat

Published on: April 24, 2009

12.2K
An Open-Source Virtual Reality System for the Measurement of Spatial Learning in Head-Restrained Mice
08:59

An Open-Source Virtual Reality System for the Measurement of Spatial Learning in Head-Restrained Mice

Published on: March 3, 2023

2.5K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Spatial Navigation
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • Spatial navigation relies on integrating external landmarks and internal self-motion cues.
  • The neural circuits and synaptic mechanisms underlying this integration, particularly with head-direction (HD) signals, are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the circuit and synaptic mechanisms by which the presubiculum (PreS) and retrosplenial cortex (RSC) signals are integrated with head-direction (HD) information.
  • To investigate the role of the anterodorsal thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) in gating sensory information and coordinating navigational strategies.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro electrophysiology to study synaptic projections from PreS and RSC to the TRN.
  • In vivo chemogenetics to inhibit anterodorsal TRN function.
  • Electrophysiological recordings in the anterior thalamus.
  • Behavioral experiments using the Morris water maze to assess search strategies.

Main Results:

  • Identified excitatory synaptic projections from the PreS and RSC to the TRN, utilizing AMPA/NMDA-type glutamate receptors.
  • Demonstrated that these projections initiate TRN cell burst discharge and feedforward inhibition of anterior thalamic nuclei.
  • Showed that TRN inhibition in vivo alters anterior thalamic firing dynamics, broadens HD cell tuning, and biases search strategies towards allocentric over egocentric navigation.

Conclusions:

  • The TRN plays a crucial role in limbic navigational circuits by integrating external sensory information with internal HD signals.
  • TRN-dependent thalamic inhibition is a key mechanism for coordinating these inputs to regulate the choice between allocentric and egocentric search strategies during spatial navigation.