1/x For those interested, here's the dropbox link to the parcellation: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b0cz132fxva7yox/ThalamusParcellation.zip?dl=0 A tweet thread counts as a publication nowadays right? So let me highlight some cool insights we found. https://twitter.com/bttyeo/status/1248767605751480321

Here's a snapshot of the parcellation. One obvious observation is that the DMN spans the medial thalamus, ignoring thalamic nuclei boundaries, contrary to the cartoon model of the thalamus and the famous 2003 thalamic parcellation paper from @behrenstimb using diffusion MR.

3/x A seed in the medial pulvinar does give a very clear cortical DMN functional connectivity map. So I started digging into the thalamus literature in the summer 2010. For those interested, you should check out the amazing 2-volume books by Ed Jones ( https://www.amazon.sg/Thalamus-2-Hardback-Set/dp/052185881X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1586618229&sr=8-1)

4/x It is clear that the cartoon model (of a 1-1 mapping between thalamic nuclei and cortical areas) is outdated. Instead, a thalamic nucleus has projections to multiple cortical areas, and a cortical area projects to multiple thalamic nuclei.

5/x There are many theories about these many-to-many relationships between thalamus and the cortex, including the matrix-vs-core theory of Ed Jones and the driving-vs-modulation theory of Sherman & Guillery.

6/x Looking at invasive tract tracing studies, it seems that the medial pulvinar, magnocellular portion of the mediodorsal nucleus & anterior medial nucleus might be connected to the DMN of non-human primates. Although it's entirely possible that I am seeing what I hope to see.

7/x Since I am getting tired, I think I will end here. Here's my presentation to the Buckner lab in 2010 https://www.dropbox.com/s/yha4c5yzx344a2j/ThalamusLabMeeting.pptx?dl=0 Here's the collation of images I gathered from invasive tract tracing studies: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rzluu1oxm1fp865/ThalamusTake2.pptx?dl=0

8/x Hah! I just realize that @AvramHolmes was probably at the 2010 Buckner lab meeting, in which I presented my literature review of thalamocortical connections. Those were good times!