Central tegmental tract

The central tegmental tract consists of ascending and descending white matter fibers located in the midbrain and pons. These tracts include:

• Ascending second-order axons that project from the gustatory section of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius to the ventral posteromedial nucleus of the thalamus. From there, third-order neurons project to the gustatory cortex.

• Ascending reticulothalamic fibers that project from the medial zone nuclei of the reticular formation to the hypothalamus, mediating autonomic nervous system responses, and to the intralaminar thalamic nuclei, mediating a startle response to pain.

• Descending rubroolivary fibers that project from the parvocellular red nucleus to the ipsilateral inferior olivary nucleus, which then projects to the contralateral cerebellum via olivocerebellar fibers.

Lesions of the central tegmental tract can cause palatal myoclonus, as seen in myoclonic syndromes and strokes affecting the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.