The ventral lateral nucleus (VL) is a nucleus in the

ventral nuclear group The ventral nuclear group is a collection of nuclei on the ventral side of the thalamus. According to MeSH, it consists of the following: * ventral anterior nucleus * ventral lateral nucleus * ventral posterior nucleus – this is made up of two nu ...

of the

thalamus The thalamus (from Greek θάλαμος, "chamber") is a large mass of gray matter located in the dorsal part of the diencephalon (a division of the forebrain). Nerve fibers project out of the thalamus to the cerebral cortex in all directions, ...

Inputs and outputs

It receives neuronal inputs from the

basal ganglia The basal ganglia (BG), or basal nuclei, are a group of subcortical nuclei, of varied origin, in the brains of vertebrates. In humans, and some primates, there are some differences, mainly in the division of the globus pallidus into an extern ...

which includes the

substantia nigra The substantia nigra (SN) is a basal ganglia structure located in the midbrain that plays an important role in reward and movement. ''Substantia nigra'' is Latin for "black substance", reflecting the fact that parts of the substantia nigra app ...

and the

globus pallidus The globus pallidus (GP), also known as paleostriatum or dorsal pallidum, is a subcortical structure of the brain. It consists of two adjacent segments, one external, known in rodents simply as the globus pallidus, and one internal, known in rod ...

(via the

thalamic fasciculus The thalamic fasciculus is a component of the subthalamus. It is synonymous with field H1 of Forel. Nerve fibres form a tract containing cerebellothalamic (crossed) and pallidothalamic (uncrossed) fibres, that is insinuated between the thalamus a ...

). It also has inputs from the

cerebellum The cerebellum (Latin for "little brain") is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as or even larger. In humans, the cerebel ...

(via the

dentatothalamic tract The dentatothalamic tract (or dentatorubrothalamic tract) is a tract which originates in the dentate nucleus and follows the ipsilateral superior cerebellar peduncle, decussating later on and reaching the contralateral red nucleus and the contrala ...

). It sends neuronal output to the

primary motor cortex The primary motor cortex (Brodmann area 4) is a brain region that in humans is located in the dorsal portion of the frontal lobe. It is the primary region of the motor system and works in association with other motor areas including premotor co ...

and

premotor cortex The premotor cortex is an area of the motor cortex lying within the frontal lobe of the brain just anterior to the primary motor cortex. It occupies part of Brodmann's area 6. It has been studied mainly in primates, including monkeys and humans. ...

. The ventral lateral nucleus in the thalamus forms the motor functional division in the

thalamic nuclei This traditional list does not accord strictly with human thalamic anatomy. Nuclear groups of the thalamus include: *anterior nuclear group ** anteroventral nucleus ** anterodorsal nucleus ** anteromedial nucleus **superficial ("lateral dorsal" ...

along with the

ventral anterior nucleus The ventral anterior nucleus (VA) is a nucleus of the thalamus. It acts with the anterior part of the ventral lateral nucleus to modify signals from the basal ganglia. Inputs and outputs The ventral anterior nucleus receives neuronal inputs from t ...

. The ventral lateral nucleus receives motor information from the

and the

. Output from the ventral lateral nucleus then goes to the primary motor cortex.

Functions

The function of the ventral lateral nucleus is to target efferents including the motor cortex, premotor cortex, and supplementary motor cortex. Therefore, its function helps the coordination and planning of movement. It also plays a role in the learning of movement.Crosson, B., (1992). Subcortical Functions in Language and Memory. New York: The Guliford Press.

Clinical significance

A lesion of the VL has been associated with

synesthesia Synesthesia (American English) or synaesthesia (British English) is a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. People who re ...

Inputs and outputs

Functions

Clinical significance

Additional images

References

External links