Question

Choose one of the following areas of your brain and explain what it does: Thalamus, Reticular formation, Brain stem (pons and medulla), Cerebellum, Limbic system, or one of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex and then explain how the area you described contributes to a specific activity from your everyday life. (Example: During horseback riding, the cerebellum integrates information from the motor systems and balance system.) Write a minimum of 2 paragraphs with no spelling or grammatical errors. Looking for an educated response with a reference listed if used.

Answer 1

Thalamus is the gray matter present in the dorsal part of the diencephalon of the brain with functions such as relaying of sensory signals and regulation of consciousness, sleep and alertness. It includes epithalamus, ventral thalamus and subthalamic thalamus.

Example of its use in daily activity- When I touch something hot by hand, the sensation from the hand travels to reach thalamus, which in turn sends it to cerebral cortex for interpretation that the object is hot. Thalamus acts a gate for the sensory signals.