Like Cannon (Cannon 1927), LeDoux sees the thalamus as a center where non-emotional and emotional information pathways co-exist. However, unlike Cannon, LeDoux does not attributes to the thalamus emotional computational power. This task is achieved one synapse away by the amygdala.
LeDoux defines the amygdala as a center for emotional evaluation (LeDoux, 1987; LeDoux, 1994), specifically involved in fear conditioning. It receives rapid and crudely processed information from the thalamus and NTS, and slower and more processed information from sucessive stages of cortical processing.
Primary sensory cortices. Project to modality specific association areas.(Mesulam et al 1977).
Locus of projection of Koniocortices (Mesulam et al 1977). Project to the amygdala in a modality specific manner. Project to cingulate gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex.
Includes arcuate frontal cortex, banks of superior temporal gyrus. Projects to cingulate gyrus, prorhinal, subrhinal and entorhinal cortices.(Mesulam et al 1977).
Mainly inferior parietal area. Also includes rhinal cortices and cingulate gyrus.(Mesulam et al 1977).
In the medulla, one the major locus of termination of the vagus nerve (visceral afferents). Projects to the amygdala, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and some hypothalamic nuclei.
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