Thalamus and hypothalamus

5 of 8 Structures deep within the brain control emotions and memories. Known as the limbic system, these structures come in pairs. Each part of this system is duplicated in the opposite half of the brain. • The thalamus acts as a gatekeeper for messages passed between the spinal cord and the cerebral hemispheres. • The hypothalamus controls emotions. It also regulates your body's temperature and controls crucial urges — such as eating or sleeping. • The hippocampus sends memories to be stored in appropriate sections of the cerebrum and then recalls them when necessary. • Brain basics: Know your brain. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/know_your_brain.htm. Accessed Feb. 14, 2011. • Alzheimer's disease: Unraveling the mystery. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/Unraveling/. Accessed Feb. 14, 2011.

The thalamus is often described as the brain’s relay station as a great deal of information that reaches the All of our senses, except smell, are outed through the thalamus before being directed to other areas of the brain for processing. There are two thalami, one in each hemisphere of the brain. They lie above the brain stem and the midbrain (or mesencephalon), which allows for connections of nerve fibers to reach the cerebral cortex in all directions. This structure of the brain can relay and integrate a variety of motor and sensory signals between the higher centers of the brain and the peripheries. The thalamus is mostly comprised of One of these is known as the medial geniculate bodies, which are important for the processing of auditory information. The other is the lateral geniculate bodies, which are responsible for the processing of visual sensory inputs. The thalamus is made up of different types of nuclei, each of which serves a unique purpose, from relaying sensory and motor signals to the regulation of consciousness and alertness. Table of Contents • • • Function As the thalamus is heavily involved in relaying information between the cortex and the brain stem, as well as within different cortical structures, it contributes to many brain processes. Historically believed to only be related to sensory relay in visual, auditory, somatosensory, and gustatory systems, it has since been found to be involved in many other functions beyond these. Below is a list of som...