Neural Connections of the Thalamus in the Whole Brain Network: Analysis Based on Resting-State fMRI

The thalamus is the largest oval gray matter mass in the diencephalon and serves as a relay station for various sensory nerves. Previous studies have shown that the thalamus is closely related to human functions such as language, movement, and sleep, but more direct evidence from brain imaging is needed. We recruited 102 Chinese college students, scanned their resting-state fMRI, and calculated the functional connectivity of the thalamus with other regions of the whole brain at the voxel level. The results showed significant functional connectivity between the thalamus, the caudate nucleus, and the motor assist area (SMA). This study provides direct evidence of the collaboration between the thalamus, speech, motor, and sleep regions from the perspective of neuroimages, which can provide reference and inspiration for medical diagnosis of related diseases.