The medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) is the thalamic relay for hearing. It receives auditory signals from the inferior colliculus through the brachium of the inferior colliculus and sends them through the auditory radiation to the primary auditory cortex in the temporal lobe.
| Location | Small swelling on the posterior underside of the thalamus, medial to the lateral geniculate nucleus and below the pulvinar |
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| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Thalamogeniculate arteries (posterior cerebral artery); Posterior choroidal arteries |
Relays sound information, organised by pitch, to the auditory cortex and helps process timing and emotional significance of sounds.
Because auditory pathways cross at several levels, a lesion of one MGN does not cause deafness in either ear. Bilateral damage, which is rare, can cause cortical-type deafness or auditory agnosia. The medial division sends input to the amygdala and is thought to help in fear conditioning to sounds.
Difficulty localising or understanding sounds, especially in noise, after damage to the auditory thalamus or its radiation, with normal hearing tests.
Rare bilateral damage to the auditory relay causing inability to recognise sounds despite intact ears.
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