What is the thalamus?
Q: What is the thalamus?
A: The thalamus is a midline symmetrical structure in the brains of vertebrates located between the cerebral cortex and midbrain.
Q: What does the thalamus do?
A: The thalamus relays sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, and regulates consciousness, sleep, and alertness. It also acts as a relay station, gathering sense information of all kinds (except olfactory) and passing it on to the cerebral cortex.
Q: Where is the thalamus located?
A: The thalamus sits above the hypothalamus, and below the cerebral cortex.
Q: What type of behaviour does it control?
A: The thalamus controls 'consummatory' behaviours such as eating, drinking, defecation, and copulation which satisfy short-term needs.
Q: Does it control olfactory senses?
A: No, it does not control olfactory senses.
