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Wolff M, Halassa MM. The mediodorsal thalamus in executive control. Neuron 2024; 112:893-908. [PMID: 38295791 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Executive control, the ability to organize thoughts and action plans in real time, is a defining feature of higher cognition. Classical theories have emphasized cortical contributions to this process, but recent studies have reinvigorated interest in the role of the thalamus. Although it is well established that local thalamic damage diminishes cognitive capacity, such observations have been difficult to inform functional models. Recent progress in experimental techniques is beginning to enrich our understanding of the anatomical, physiological, and computational substrates underlying thalamic engagement in executive control. In this review, we discuss this progress and particularly focus on the mediodorsal thalamus, which regulates the activity within and across frontal cortical areas. We end with a synthesis that highlights frontal thalamocortical interactions in cognitive computations and discusses its functional implications in normal and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Wolff
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
| | - Michael M Halassa
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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Pergola G, Danet L, Pitel AL, Carlesimo GA, Segobin S, Pariente J, Suchan B, Mitchell AS, Barbeau EJ. The Regulatory Role of the Human Mediodorsal Thalamus. Trends Cogn Sci 2018; 22:1011-1025. [PMID: 30236489 PMCID: PMC6198112 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The function of the human mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD) has so far eluded a clear definition in terms of specific cognitive processes and tasks. Although it was at first proposed to play a role in long-term memory, a set of recent studies in animals and humans has revealed a more complex, and broader, role in several cognitive functions. The MD seems to play a multifaceted role in higher cognitive functions together with the prefrontal cortex and other cortical and subcortical brain areas. Specifically, we propose that the MD is involved in the regulation of cortical networks especially when the maintenance and temporal extension of persistent activity patterns in the frontal lobe areas are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Pergola
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari 70124, Italy.
| | - Lola Danet
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS 31024, France; CHU Toulouse Purpan, Neurology Department, Toulouse 31059, France
| | - Anne-Lise Pitel
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Giovanni A Carlesimo
- Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University and S. Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Shailendra Segobin
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Jérémie Pariente
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS 31024, France; CHU Toulouse Purpan, Neurology Department, Toulouse 31059, France
| | - Boris Suchan
- Clinical Neuropsychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Anna S Mitchell
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, The Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK; Equivalent contribution as last authors.
| | - Emmanuel J Barbeau
- Centre de recherche Cerveau et Cognition, UMR5549, Université de Toulouse - CNRS, Toulouse 31000, France; Equivalent contribution as last authors
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Terpou BA, Densmore M, Théberge J, Frewen P, McKinnon MC, Lanius RA. Resting-state pulvinar-posterior parietal decoupling in PTSD and its dissociative subtype. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:4228-4240. [PMID: 30091811 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Key evidence points toward alterations in the neurocircuitry of large-scale networks among patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The pulvinar is a thalamic region displaying reciprocal connectivity with the cortex and has been shown to modulate alpha synchrony to facilitate network communication. During rest, the pulvinar displays functional connectivity with the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), a heteromodal network of brain areas underlying multisensory integration and socioaffective functions that are shown at deficit in PTSD. Accordingly, this study seeks to reveal the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) patterns of individuals with PTSD, its dissociative subtype (PTSD + DS) and healthy controls. A whole-brain rsFC analysis was conducted using SPM12 and PickAtlas. Connectivity was analyzed for the left and right pulvinar across groups of individuals with PTSD (n = 81), PTSD + DS (n = 49), and controls (n = 51). As compared to PTSD, controls displayed significantly greater pulvinar rsFC with the superior parietal lobule and precuneus. Moreover, as compared to PTSD + DS, controls showed increased pulvinar connectivity with the superior parietal lobule, inferior parietal lobule and the precuneus. PTSD groups did not display stronger connectivity with any region as compared to controls. Last, PTSD had greater rsFC in the supramarginal gyrus relative to PTSD + DS. Reduced connectivity between the pulvinar and PPC may explain impairments to autobiographical memory, self-referential processing, and socioaffective domains in PTSD and PTSD + DS even at "rest." Critically, these alterations appear to be exacerbated in individuals with PTSD + DS, which may have important implications for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braeden A Terpou
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria Densmore
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Imaging Division, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Imaging Division, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Frewen
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margaret C McKinnon
- Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruth A Lanius
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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