Although the cerebral cortex is usually thought of as a likely substrate
for psychiatric disease, the close relationship of thalamus to cortex, both
structurally and functionally, argues for much closer consideration of this
structure in both research and clinical settings. Four thalamic nuclei with
widely differing functions are considered in terms of the specific roles
they appear to play in central nervous system activity and their possible
roles in psychiatric disease. These nuclei include the ventrobasal complex,
the nucleus reticularis thalami, the mediodorsal nucleus, and the dorsal
thalamic system with special reference to the habenula.Abstract Teaser