Diencephalon

Question 1

What is the diencephalon?

Answer 1

Located beneath the cerebral hemispheres

Contains the: Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Subthalamus and Epithalamus

Location of major motor and sensory synapses

Question 2

What is the thalamus and its major functioning?

Answer 2

• Acts as a [major processing station] for the majority of information that projects to the cerebral cortex.
• Receives information from the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and all sensory pathways save for the olfactory tract.
• Relays information received to the appropriate association cortex

Question 3

What is the major functioning of the hypothalamus?

Answer 3

• Receiving and integrating information from the ANS.
• Assists in the regulation of hormones.
• Controls: hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, and sleeping
• Regulates: body temperature, and adrenal and pituitary glands.

Question 4

What impairments are a result of damage to the hypothalamus?

Answer 4

• Obesity
• Sexual Disinterest
• Poor temperature regulation
• Diabetes Insipidus

Question 5

What impairments are are a result of damage to the thalamus?

Answer 5

• Damage to the thalamus leads to thalamic pain syndrome, Contralateral side of the body to a thalamic lesion.
• Spontaneous type of pain

Question 6

What is the Subthalamus and its major functioning?

Answer 6

• Primary represent by the subthalamic nucleus
• Important for movement regulation of the skeletal muscles
• Has association with the substantia nigra and the basal ganglia

Question 7

What is the Epithalamus and its major functioning?

Answer 7

• Primary represented by the Pineal Gland
• secretes melatonin and is involved with the circadian rhythm
• Associated with the limbic system and the basal ganglia

Pineal Gland = Epithalamus = Melatonin Secretion = Circadian Rhythm