Research conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stony Brook University suggests that the thalamus, traditionally viewed as a relay station in the brain, may have a more significant role in abstract thinking and executive control. The findings were published in the journal Neuron.
The study involved investigating the electrophysiology of the thalamus in primates, combined with computer modeling. The research demonstrated that higher-order thalamic nuclei can select behavioral rules and dynamically influence activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for cognitive flexibility.
Using precision simultaneous electrophysiology, researchers found that the thalamus actively guides complex decisions rather than merely transmitting information. "This discovery offers a breakthrough in understanding how higher-level brain functions work and could lead to new treatments for conditions like schizophrenia, ADHD, and brain injury using targeted brain stimulation," said Sima Mofakham, assistant professor at Stony Brook University.
Mofakham emphasized that these findings suggest a new role for the thalamus in shaping cortical dynamics within the prefrontal cortex. Traditionally, it was believed that abstract thinking and cognitive control were primarily functions of the cortex. This research challenges that notion and may pave the way for further investigation into specific roles of brain regions like the thalamus.
The research team from Wisconsin-Madison, led by Jessica Phillips and Yuri Saalmann, used MRI-guided electrophysiological recordings while primates performed tasks. At Stony Brook Medicine, Mofakham, Charlies Mikell, and PhD student Xi Cheng completed computational modeling to confirm results.
Mofakham noted that ongoing research is needed to fully understand what electrophysiological activity in the thalamus means concerning prefrontal cortex executive functioning. The findings also have potential implications for designing advanced brain-computer interfaces and artificial intelligence systems capable of real-time adaptive decision-making.
This study received support from several National Institutes of Health grants: R01MH110311, R01NS117901, and P51OD011106.
For additional information on neuroscience research on consciousness at RSOM, visit the Mofakham Mikell Laboratory's website.