Intralaminar thalamic nuclei

The intralaminar thalamic nuclei (ITN) are collections of neurons in the internal medullary lamina of the thalamus.

Structure
The ITN are generally divided in two groups as follows:
 * anterior (rostral) group
 * central medial nucleus
 * paracentral nucleus
 * central lateral nucleus
 * posterior (caudal) intralaminar group
 * centromedian nucleus
 * parafascicular nucleus

Some sources also include a "central dorsal" nucleus.

Afferents
Midline nuclei of the ILN receive afferents from the brain stem, spinal cord, and cerebellum. Connections with the cerebral cortex, and basal nuclei are reciprocal. Afferents from the spinothalamic tract as well as aeriaqueductal gray as part of a pathway involved in pain processing.

Efferents
The intralaminar nuclei project efferents to the hypothalamus, amygdala, and limbic lobe.

Function
The ITN are thought to be involved in mediating arousal, affective, autonomic responses to pain.

Clinical significance
Degeneration of this area may occur in progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease.

Research
This area is also prominently affected in traumatic brain injuries. One postmortem study of patients with closed head injuries showed correlation of the involvement of these nuclei with the various degrees of disability.