Thalamic reticular nucleus

The reticular nucleus is a core area in the thalamus of the diencephalon.

He is counted among the so-called non-specific nuclei. This also includes the intralaminar nuclear groups. Non-specific thalamic nuclei have no specific efferent fibers to the cerebral cortex (cortex ) of the telencephalon, so that an accurate assignment to a specific cortical area is hardly possible.

However, a precise assignment of the reticular nucleus is possible with central nervous system areas that are not located in the cerebrum: So the reticular nucleus reticularis inhibitory afferent is controlled by the formation in the brainstem. Efferent he projected resistant to the different "specific" thalamic nuclei with GABA. The ascending reticular activating system ( ARAS ) of the reticular formation through a non-directional inhibition of the reticular nucleus to a disinhibition of the specific thalamic nuclei, making them activate the cortex with its excitatory efferent fibers. Thus the nucleus reticularis comes a prominent role in in the regulation in the directed attention and in the control of sleep and wakefulness.

The reticular nucleus is significantly involved in the angina attack of epileptic seizures associated with a short loss of consciousness ( absence seizures ).

Swell

• Martin Trepel: Neuroanatomy. Structure and function., 4th edition. , Elsevier, Urban & Fischer Verlag, Munich and Jena 2008, ISBN 978-3-437-41298-1.

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