Nucleus incertus



The nucleus incertus is a region of the pontine brainstem just ventral to the 4th ventricle. The term was coined by George Streeter (Latin for "uncertain nucleus") based on its unknown function at the time, to name a group of cells he observed near the midline of the floor of the 4th ventricle. It sometimes called the 'nucleus O'.

The nucleus incertus is a bilateral structure which sits near the brainstem, in front of the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi. It consists of mostly ascending GABAergic projection neurons and glutamatergic neurons which innervate a broad range of forebrain regions involved in behavioural activation.

It is part of the theta network acting as a relay from the reticularis pontis oralis nucleus to the septo-hippocampal system. The stimulation of the nucleus incertus activates the hippocampal theta rhythm and either its lesion or inhibition suppress the theta oscillation induced by brainstem stimulation. The nucleus incertus itself presents theta oscillations coupled to the hippocampal theta rhythm.

In addition to hippocampal theta rhythms, the nucleus incertus is involved in the control of locomotor speed and arousal, response to stress and integrating the vestibulo-ocular reflex and gaze holding with hippocampal navigation.