The cerebral cortex contains multiple, distinct areas that individually perform specific computations. A particular strength of the cortex is the communication of signals between cortical areas that allows the outputs of these compartmentalized computations to influence and build on each other, thereby dramatically increasing the processing power of the cortex and its role in sensation, action, and cognition. Determining how the cortex communicates signals between individual areas is, therefore, critical for understanding cortical function. Historically, corticocortical communication was thought to occur exclusively by direct anatomical connections between areas that often sequentially linked cortical areas in a hierarchical fashion. More recently, anatomical, physiological, and behavioral evidence is accumulating indicating a role for the higher-order thalamus in corticocortical communication. Specifically, the transthalamic pathway involves projections from one area of the cortex to neurons in the higher-order thalamus that, in turn, project to another area of the cortex. Here, we consider the evidence for and implications of having two routes for corticocortical communication with an emphasis on unique processing available in the transthalamic pathway and the consequences of disorders and diseases that affect transthalamic communication.

大脑皮层包含多个不同的区域，这些区域分别执行特定的计算。皮层的一个特殊优势是皮层区域之间的信号通信，允许这些分区计算的输出相互影响和构建，从而显着提高皮层的处理能力及其在感觉、行动和认知中的作用。因此，确定皮层如何在各个区域之间传递信号对于理解皮层功能至关重要。从历史上看，皮质通讯被认为完全是通过区域之间的直接解剖连接来发生的，这些区域通常以分层方式顺序连接皮质区域。最近，越来越多的解剖学、生理学和行为证据表明高阶丘脑在皮质皮质通讯中的作用。具体来说，跨丘脑通路涉及从皮层的一个区域到高阶丘脑中的神经元的投射，而高阶丘脑的神经元又投射到皮层的另一个区域。在这里，我们考虑有两种皮质通讯途径的证据和含义，重点是经丘脑途径中可用的独特处理以及影响经丘脑通讯的紊乱和疾病的后果。