Often described as the brain’srelay station, the thalamus sits atop the brainstem, channeling sensory information (except smell) to the appropriate cortical areas. It also plays a key role inattention and consciousness, modulating the flow of neural traffic based on relevance. Functionally, the thalamus connects every sensory modality to the cortex — visual signals to occipital regions, auditory to temporal, somatosensory to parietal — ensuring coherent experience. Its reciprocal loops with the cortex and basal ganglia contribute to wakefulness, coordination, and even dream imagery. The name derives from Greekthalamos, meaning “inner chamber,” a poetic fit for its central, filtering role.