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Thalamic Gates

Meaning

A functional, conceptual term in neurophysiology referring to the thalamus’s critical role as the principal relay and regulatory center for almost all sensory and motor information ascending to the cerebral cortex. The ‘gates’ describe the selective filtering and gating mechanism by which the thalamus controls the flow of information, prioritizing relevant signals while suppressing distracting or non-essential inputs. Optimal gating is fundamental for focused attention, sensory integration, and preventing cognitive overload.