부산대학교 도서관

Over the past 50–60 years, numerous studies have revealed the auditory thalamus to be a highly heterogeneous structure that sits at the crossroads between brain regions that process primarily the acoustic aspects of sound and those that process the cognitive and emotional aspects. In all mammalian species that have been investigated, the auditory thalamus (more commonly known as the medial geniculate body, or MGB) contains 3 primary nuclei, each with partially overlapping inputs, outputs, and cellular properties. These nuclei delineate at least 3 parallel pathways of information flow between the auditory midbrain and cortex. Modern circuit-dissection approaches have revealed both similarities and differences between the auditory thalamus and other sensory thalamic regions, as will be discussed. This chapter reviews what is known about these pathways through the auditory thalamus, linking decades-old studies with more modern work, and poses questions that may help propel further understanding of this critical structure.