pulvinar

The pulvinar is a large posterior nuclear complex within the thalamus, making up about 30 percent of the thalamic volume in humans. It plays a role in multisensory integration and behavioral orientation, with strong connections to the parietal association cortex and widespread projections to other cortical areas. The pulvinar also connects with the prefrontal cortex, multisensory nuclei, cingulate cortex, insula, and amygdala. While subdivisions have been theorized, they are not spatially distinct and have unclear functional differences. The thalamus itself is a crucial relay for sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, and it is involved in motor activity, emotion, memory, and arousal.12