Anterior Thalamic Nuclei (ATN)

The anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) are the groups of nerve cells, located at the front part of the thalamus, which are thought to be responsible for episodic memory, consciousness, alertness, and sleep; and relay information to the cerebrum. These are also hypothesized to be involved with space navigation and head movements. For instance, the ATN were observed to be activated when animals are trying to perceive their directions. Significant activity was also detected when subjects were recalling life events.