A View of Cortex from the Thalamus

Explore the intricate relationship between the thalamus and cortex in this 37-minute lecture by S. Murray Sherman from the University of Chicago. Delve into the concepts of representation, coding, and computation in neural circuits, focusing on the thalamus's role in visual processing. Learn about driving inputs, visual relays, and the pulvinar nucleus. Examine slice experiments, V2 cells, population activity, and branching axons. Gain insights into retinal axons and early examples of thalamo-cortical connections. Conclude with a summary of findings, an alternative perspective, and a discussion on the messy nature of evolution in neural circuitry.