A subcortical pathway links sensory and limbic systems of the forebrain.

The subcortical afferents and cortical projections of the lateral dorsal nucleus of the thalamus were investigated using anterograde and retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The lateral dorsal nucleus receives afferent projections from several nuclei of the pretectal complex, and sends efferent projections to several subdivisions of limbic cortex. These connections constitute a two stage pathway that could convey visual and somatosensory information to the limbic system.