Centromedian nucleus

In the anatomy of the brain, the centromedian nucleus, also known as the centrum medianum, (CM or Cm-Pf) is a part of the intralaminar nucleus (ILN) of the thalamus. There are two centromedian nuclei arranged bilaterally.

It contains about 2000 neurons per cubic millimetre and has a volume of about 300 cubic millimetres with 600,000 neurons in total. It sends nerve fibres to the caudate, putamen and collateral fibres to the cerebral cortex. It receives nerve fibres from the cerebral cortex, vestibular nuclei, globus pallidus, superior colliculus, reticular formation, and spinothalamic tract.

Its physiological role involves attention and arousal, including control of the level of cortical activity. Some frequencies of extracellular electrical stimulation of the centromedian nucleus can cause absence seizures (temporary loss of consciousness) although electrical stimulation can be of therapeutic use in intractable epilepsy and Tourette's syndrome. General anaesthetics specifically suppress activity in the ILN, including the centromedian nucleus. Complete bilateral lesions of the centromedian nucleus can lead to states normally associated with brain death such as coma, death, persistent vegetative state, forms of mutism and severe delirium. Unilateral lesions can lead to unilateral thalamic neglect.

Furthermore, it has been suggested that the human consciousness resides fully or at least mainly in the centromedian nucleus.

Relevant articles

 * The Global Thalamus (See level 12, the centromedian nucleus is labelled CM)


 * Nicholas D. Schiff and Fred Plum. The Role of Arousal and “Gating” Systems in the Neurology of Impaired Consciousness. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology. 17(5):438–452, 2000.


 * J. M. Henderson, K. Carpenter, H. Cartwright and G. M. Halliday. Loss of thalamic intralaminar nuclei in progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease: clinical and therapeutic implications. Brain, Vol. 123, No. 7, 1410-1421, July 2000


 * Joe Bogen's Consciousness Page (Professor Bogen)