Anterior thalamic radiation

The anterior thalamic radiation is a major thalamocortical projection fibre system connecting the thalamus with the frontal and cingulate cortices. It includes fibres connecting the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus with the frontal cortex and the anterior thalamic nuclei with the anterior cingulate cortex.

From the thalamus, these fibres pass anteriorly through the anterior limb of the internal capsule, where they form a major component of its fibre architecture and are concentrated predominantly in its medial portion. In deep regions superior to the anterior commissure, anterior thalamic radiation fibres generally lie medial to the frontopontine fibres, although the two fibre systems are not completely separated and may intermingle. Superiorly, the anterior thalamic radiation fibres fan out through the frontal corona radiata to reach their frontal and cingulate cortical destinations.