Thalamus

Thalamus

The thalamus is a large, dual lobed mass of grey matter that is buried under the cerebral cortex. The thalamus is part of the brain responsible for signal relaying and prioritization. It is involved in sensory perception and regulation of motor functions. The thalamus is a limbic system structure and it connects areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in sensory perception and movement, with other parts of the brain and spinal cord that also have a role in sensation and movement. As a regulator of sensory information, the thalamus also controls sleep and awake states of consciousness.