The basic neuronal network common to all thalamic nuclei
Each of the major thalamic nuclei in Figure 1B comprise the same basic circuitry. The source of driver inputs dictates the classification of thalamic nuclei as either a first- or higher-order nuclei, with first-order nuclei receiving and processing driver inputs from the periphery, and higher-order nuclei receiving and processing driver inputs from cortical layer V. Driver input – orange; thalamic relay neuron – blue; TRN – red; corticothalamic neuron – green. Abbreviation: TRN, thalamic reticular nucleus.