TRENDS IN THE ANATOMICAL ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MAMMALIAN THALAMUS

The last decade has witnessed major changes in the experimental approa ch to the study of the thalamus and to the analysis of the anatomical and functional interrelations between thalamic nuclei and cortical are as. The present review focuses on the novel anatomical approaches to t halamo-cortical connections and thalamic functions in the historical f ramework of the classical studies on the thalamus. In the light of the most recent data it is here discussed that: a) the thalamus can subse rve different functions according to functional changes in the cortica l and subcortical afferent systems; b) the multifarious thalamic cellu lar entities play a crucial role in the different functional states.