thalamus

American  

[thal-uh-muhs] / ˈθæl ə məs /

noun

plural

thalami

1. Anatomy. the middle part of the diencephalon through which sensory impulses pass to reach the cerebral cortex.

2. Botany. a receptacle or torus.

3. Also called thalamium.  an apartment for women in an ancient Greek house.

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thalamus British  

/ ˈθæləməs, θəˈlæmɪk /

noun

1. either of the two contiguous egg-shaped masses of grey matter at the base of the brain

2. both of these masses considered as a functional unit

3. the receptacle or torus of a flower

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thalamus Scientific  

/ thăl′ə-məs /

plural

thalami

1. The part of the vertebrate brain that lies at the rear of the forebrain. It relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex and regulates the perception of touch, pain, and temperature.

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thalamus Cultural  

1. The part of the brain that coordinates nerve impulses relating to the senses of sight, hearing, touch, and taste.

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Other Word Forms

• postthalamic adjective
• subthalamic adjective
• thalamic adjective
• thalamically adverb
• transthalamic adjective

Etymology

Origin of thalamus

1695–1705; < New Latin; Latin: bedroom < Greek thálamos

Compare meaning

How does thalamus compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hypothalamus vs. thalamus

Example Sentences

Neurons in the mediodorsal thalamus appeared to track changes in the value of different choices.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Using optogenetics, they engineered neurons in the mediodorsal thalamus to respond to light.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Earlier research in rodents has shown that the thalamus plays an important role in organizing neural circuits in the cortex.

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

Correlation alone could not answer the key questions, so co-lead Celine Chen created a CRISPR-based screening platform to alter gene activity in the thalamus and cortex.

From Science Daily • Nov. 30, 2025

These serve as nectaries, s, the whorl of stamens inserted on the thalamus and surrounding the pistil.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various