意思決定・運動実行に関わる視床回路

Neural Circuits for Decision Making and Motor Execution Involving the Thalamus

意思決定から運動実行への移行には，前頭前皮質・運動関連皮質と視床を結ぶ複数の皮質-皮質下回路が関与する。本論では，皮質-視床，皮質-大脳基底核-視床，皮質-小脳-視床の各ループが視床で重なることに着目し，関連する主要な視床核の結合様式と近年の生理学的知見を整理する。さらに，皮質視床投射と大脳基底核による制御が，行動選択から運動実行への移行を支える可能性を論じる。

Abstract

The transition from decision making to motor execution involves multiple cortico-subcortical pathways linking the thalamus with the prefrontal and motor-related cortices. Focusing on the thalamus as the site where the corticothalamic, cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical, and cortico-cerebello-thalamo-cortical loops converge, this review summarizes the connectivity and recent physiological findings of the major thalamic nuclei associated with these cortical areas. It further discusses how corticothalamic projections and basal ganglia-mediated control support the transition from action selection to motor execution.