Thalamus

The last five years have shown an explosion of research interest into the thalamus, offering confirmation of its status as a region of the brain with major functional significance. Morphological and immunohistochemical studies have provided important data on its synaptic organisation and chemistry. Electrophysiological investigations, in vivo and in vitro, have allowed remarkable progress in defining the intrinsic neuronal properties and network operations that underlie the low and high frequency oscillations which accompany changes in attention and conscious state; additionally, they have continued to provide ever new insight into the transfer function of thalamic cells. Finally, combined morphological and physiological studies have shed light on the modulatory systems that contribute to the readiness of thalamic neurons to respond during activated states. The two volumes of Thalamus put these advances into sharp focus, as well as offering insight into future avenues of research.