In the anatomy of the brain, the centromedian nucleus, also known as the centrum medianum, (CM or Cm-Pf) is a nucleus in the posterior group of the intralaminar thalamic nuclei (ITN) in the thalamus. (This must not be confused with the central medial nucleus, which is in the anterior group of the ITN.) There are two centromedian nuclei arranged bilaterally.
| Centromedian nucleus | |
|---|---|
 Centromedian nucleus inside left thalamus | |
| Details | |
| Part of | Intralaminar thalamic nuclei |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nucleus centromedianus thalami |
| Acronym(s) | CM or Cm-Pf |
| NeuroNames | 323 |
| NeuroLex ID | birnlex_805 |
| TA98 | A14.1.08.618 |
| FMA | 62165 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
In humans, each centromedian nucleus contains about 2200 neurons per cubic millimetre and has a volume of about 310 cubic millimetres with 664,000 neurons in total.[1] It measures less than 10 millimetres in every dimension.[2] It belongs to the caudal intralaminar group of thalamic nuclei and is situated within the medial thalamus. It is bordered superiorly by the mediodorsal nucleus, medially by the parafascicular nucleus, and posteriorly by the pulvinar.[2][3]
Input and output
editIt sends nerve fibres to the subthalamic nucleus and putamen.[4] It receives nerve fibres from the cerebral cortex, vestibular nuclei, globus pallidus, superior colliculus, reticular formation, and spinothalamic tract.
Function
editIts physiological role involves attention and arousal, including control of the level of cortical activity. Some frequencies of extracellular electrical stimulation of the centromedian nucleus can cause absence seizures (temporary loss of consciousness) although electrical stimulation can be of therapeutic use in intractable epilepsy and Tourette's syndrome. Specifically, the centromedian nucleus has been proposed as a target for neuromodulation-based treatment of generalized epilepsy.[5]
General anaesthetics specifically suppress activity in the ITN, including the centromedian nucleus. Complete bilateral lesions of the centromedian nucleus can lead to states normally associated with brain death such as coma, death, persistent vegetative state, forms of mutism and severe delirium. Unilateral lesions can lead to unilateral thalamic neglect. (See hemispatial neglect.)
A patient with electrodes implanted into more than 50 different regions in his brain (including regions giving him orgasmic feelings) chose to self stimulate the electrode in his centromedian nucleus more than all other electrodes. The patient's explanation of this: "The subject reported that he was almost able to recall a memory during this stimulation, but he could not quite grasp it. The frequent selfstimulations were an endeavor to bring this elusive memory into clear focus."[6]
Additional images
edit-
Thalamus
-
Left thalamus, view from left dorsal posterior
Notes and references
edit- ^ Henderson J, Carpenter K, Cartwright H, Halliday G (2000). "Loss of thalamic intralaminar nuclei in progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease: clinical and therapeutic implications". Brain. 123 (7): 1410–1421. doi:10.1093/brain/123.7.1410. PMID 10869053. Archived from the original on 2004-12-25. Retrieved 2004-09-24.
- ^ a b Remore, Luigi G.; Rifi, Ziad; Bari, Ausaf A. (2023). "Structural connections of the centromedian nucleus of thalamus and their relevance for neuromodulation in generalized drug-resistant epilepsy: insight from a tractography study". Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders. 16: 1–17. doi:10.1177/17562864231202064. PMC 10563482. PMID 37822361.
- ^ Ilyas, Adeel; Pizarro, Diana; Romeo, Andrew K.; Riley, Kristen O; Pati, Sandipan (2019). "The centromedian nucleus: Anatomy, physiology, and clinical implications". Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 63: 1–7. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2019.01.050. PMID 30827880. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Powell, T. P. S.; Cowan W. M. (1967). "The interpretation of the degenerative changes in the intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus". Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 30 (2): 140–153. doi:10.1136/jnnp.30.2.140. PMC 496153. PMID 4962197.
- ^ Kokkinos, Vasileios; Urban, Alexandra; Sisterson, Nathaniel D.; Li, Ningfei; Corson, Danielle; Richardson, R Mark (2020). "Responsive Neurostimulation of the Thalamus Improves Seizure Control in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy: A Case Report". Neurosurgery. pp. E578–E583. doi:10.1093/neuros/nyaa001. PMID 32023343.
- ^ Heath, Robert G. (1963). "Electrical Self-Stimulation of the Brain in Man". American Journal of Psychiatry. 120 (6): 571–577. doi:10.1176/ajp.120.6.571. PMID 14086435.
External links
edit- Illustration and text: coro97/contents.htm at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical school - The Global Thalamus (See level 12, the centromedian nucleus is labelled CM)
- Schiff N, Plum F (2000). "The role of arousal and "gating" systems in the neurology of impaired consciousness". Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology. 17 (5): 438–52. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.462.7743. doi:10.1097/00004691-200009000-00002. PMID 11085547. S2CID 17983908.
- Joe Bogen's Consciousness Page (Professor Bogen) at California Institute of Technology
- NIF Search - Centromedian Nucleus[permanent dead link] via the Neuroscience Information Framework