Tham Wendy W P, Stevenson Richard J, Miller Laurie A
Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Brain Res Rev. 2009 Dec 11;62(1):109-26. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2009.09.007. Epub 2009 Oct 1.
Olfaction is unique relative to other sensory modalities in terms of how its neuroanatomy is organized within the brain and its perceptual properties. Olfactory information processing occurs via connections made directly from primary processing areas (piriform cortex) to neocortical structures (orbitofrontal cortex) as well as indirectly via the medio-dorsal nucleus of the thalamus (MDNT). To date, little is known about the functional significance of the MDNT in olfactory information processing. The aim of this article is to review and discuss thalamic function in olfaction. We draw upon research in human neuroimaging, neuropsychology, as well as animal and neurophysiological studies on the thalamus and MDNT in general, before focusing our discussion on the effects of MDNT lesions specific to olfactory function. Finally, although these data are currently limited and sometimes conflicting, especially those based upon human pathology, the putative roles of the MDNT in olfactory information processing and notably its role in attention, are discussed.
嗅觉在其神经解剖结构在大脑中的组织方式及其感知特性方面，相对于其他感觉模态而言是独特的。嗅觉信息处理通过从初级处理区域（梨状皮质）直接连接到新皮质结构（眶额皮质）以及间接通过丘脑内侧背核（MDNT）来进行。迄今为止，关于MDNT在嗅觉信息处理中的功能意义知之甚少。本文的目的是回顾和讨论丘脑在嗅觉中的功能。在将讨论重点放在MDNT损伤对嗅觉功能的特定影响之前，我们借鉴了人类神经影像学、神经心理学以及关于丘脑和MDNT的动物与神经生理学研究。最后，尽管目前这些数据有限且有时相互矛盾，尤其是基于人类病理学的数据，但我们仍讨论了MDNT在嗅觉信息处理中的假定作用，特别是其在注意力方面的作用。
