The Limbic System - Thalamus

Next on our trip throughout the limbic system is the thalamus! The thalamus is mainly in charge of regulating and relaying sensory and motor information between the body and the cerebral cortex. This allows information that our senses detect and information about how we move our bodies to be processed. It also is why we are able to "tune out" things that we sense if we think they are not that important; the thalamus helps to filter out sensory and motor information that we don't need to process fully. The structure of the thalamus allows it to compartmentalize what kind of information it is dealing with because there are concentrations of neurons in different parts of the thalamus that are tasked with different functions. As a part of the limbic system, the thalamus is also important for regulating your consciousness (ability to be awake) and feelings of pain.

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This week's activity is more of a challenge than an activity. Here it is:

I challenge you to keep a journal for a week. Write down everything that you feel (physical and emotional) and what you were doing when you were feeling that way. Also, pay attention and record at least 5 times when you caught yourself tuning something out (you might realize that you are tuning out way more information than you thought you were!). This challenge is meant for you to recognize that your thalamus does A LOT for you in making sure that you only process what you "need" to process. Even then, it is still processing a lot of things, and you will notice that when you are struggling to write down everything. By the end of the week, though, you might find yourself enjoying journaling because it can feel relieving to write everything down (at least it is for me). Let me know how this challenge goes in the comments below, and look out for the last part of the limbic system soon!