The Anterior Nuclei of the Thalamus

Question

The anterior nuclei of the thalamus
A) are part of the limbic system.
B) secrete pituitary hormones.
C) secrete melatonin.
D) receive axon collaterals from the optic nerve.
E) secrete pituitary hormones and melatonin.

Accepted Answer

The anterior nuclei of the thalamus are part of the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions, memory, and motivation. They receive inputs from the mammillary bodies and hippocampus and project to the cingulate gyrus and prefrontal cortex, which are involved in emotional and cognitive processing. The other options are not accurate descriptions of the function of the anterior nuclei of the thalamus.