NEW VIEWS OF THE THALAMIC RETICULAR NUCLEUS IN THE ADULT AND THE DEVELOPING BRAIN

The thalamic reticular nucleus plays a crucial role in modifying the p atterns of activity that can reach the cerebral cortex from the thalam us. Although the nucleus is generally viewed as a cell group with wide spread and nonspecific thalamic and cortical connections, recent evide nce has begun to stress the extent to which at least some of the retic ular pathways transmit well-defined maps with a clear local sign from the cortex and the thalamus. Further, evidence from the adult structur e of the nucleus and ongoing developmental studies suggest that the re ticular nucleus plays an important part in organizing the earliest con nections between cortex and thalamus and that the developmental sequen ce may explain the complex connections formed in the adult.