Editing Thalamus (section)

==Clinical significance==
A thalamus damaged by a [[stroke]] can lead to [[thalamic pain syndrome]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dejerine |first1=J. |last2=Roussy |first2=G. |year=1906 |title=Le syndrome thalamique |journal=Revue Neurologique |volume=14 |pages=521–32}}</ref> which involves a one-sided burning or aching sensation often accompanied by [[mood disorder|mood swings]]. Bilateral [[ischemia]] of the area supplied by the paramedian artery can cause serious problems including [[akinetic mutism]], and be accompanied by [[oculomotor]] problems. A related concept is [[thalamocortical dysrhythmia]]. The occlusion of the [[artery of Percheron]] can lead to a bilateral thalamus infarction.

[[Korsakoff syndrome]] stems from damage to the [[mammillary body]], the [[mammillothalamic fasciculus]] or the thalamus.<ref name="Kopelman">{{cite journal |last1=Kopelman |first1=MD |last2=Thomson |first2=AD |last3=Guerrini |first3=I |last4=Marshall |first4=EJ |title=The Korsakoff syndrome: clinical aspects, psychology and treatment. |journal=Alcohol and Alcoholism |date=16 January 2009 |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=148–54 |doi=10.1093/alcalc/agn118 |pmid=19151162}}</ref><ref name="AJNR">{{cite journal |last1=Rahme |first1=R |last2=Moussa |first2=R |last3=Awada |first3=A |last4=Ibrahim |first4=I |last5=Ali |first5=Y |last6=Maarrawi |first6=J |last7=Rizk |first7=T |last8=Nohra |first8=G |last9=Okais |first9=N |last10=Samaha |first10=E |title=Acute Korsakoff-like amnestic syndrome resulting from left thalamic infarction following a right hippocampal hemorrhage. |journal=AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology |date=April 2007 |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=759–60 |pmid=17416834 |pmc=7977335}}</ref>

[[Fatal familial insomnia]] is a hereditary [[prion]] disease in which degeneration of the thalamus occurs, causing the patient to gradually lose their ability to sleep and progressing to a state of total [[insomnia]], which invariably leads to death. In contrast, damage to the thalamus can result in coma.

Atrophy of the thalamus is an indicator of the start of [[multiple sclerosis]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wexler |first1=Marisa |title=Machine learning models estimate when brain atrophy starts in MS |url=https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/news-posts/machine-learning-models-estimate-brain-atrophy-ms/ |work=Multiple Sclerosis News Today |date=20 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cen |first1=Steven |last2=Gebregziabher |first2=Mulugeta |last3=Moazami |first3=Saeed |last4=Azevedo |first4=Christina J. |last5=Pelletier |first5=Daniel |title=Toward precision medicine using a "digital twin" approach: modeling the onset of disease-specific brain atrophy in individuals with multiple sclerosis |journal=Scientific Reports |date=28 September 2023 |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=rs.3.rs–2833532 |doi=10.1038/s41598-023-43618-5 |pmid=37205476 |bibcode=2023NatSR..1316279C |pmc=10187410}}</ref> Thalamic volume loss by atrophy, is also significantly shown in sporadic [[frontotemporal dementia]], noted in the anterior-dorsal thickness.<ref name="Khadhraoui">{{cite journal |last1=Khadhraoui |first1=E |last2=Nickl-Jockschat |first2=T |last3=Henkes |first3=H |last4=Behme |first4=D |last5=Müller |first5=SJ |title=Automated brain segmentation and volumetry in dementia diagnostics: a narrative review with emphasis on FreeSurfer. |journal=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience |date=2024 |volume=16 |pages=1459652 |doi=10.3389/fnagi.2024.1459652 |doi-access=free |pmid=39291276|pmc=11405240}}</ref>

Microstimulation of the posterior portion of the [[ventral lateral nucleus#Subdivisions|ventral medial thalamic nucleus]] can be used to evoke pain, temperature and visceral sensations.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blomqvist |first1=A. |title=Cytoarchitectonic and immunohistochemical characterization of a specific pain and temperature relay, the posterior portion of the ventral medial nucleus, in the human thalamus |journal=Brain |date=1 March 2000 |volume=123 |issue=3 |pages=601–619 |doi=10.1093/brain/123.3.601 |pmid=10686182 |url=https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/123/3/601/348813}}</ref>