Figure 1. Connectivity of the pulvinar subregions.

The pulvinar has significant reciprocal connectivity with the cortex, here summarized in cartoon form with lines depicting bidirectional connections except the connections from the retina and superior colliculus (SC), which are unidirectional. Hatched lines indicate reported connections that are controversial or have not been verified. Specific subdivisions within the inferior pulvinar (PI) and lateral pulvinar (PL) send and receive projections from both dorsal and ventral streams of the visual cortex. The medial subdivision of the inferior pulvinar (PIm) is recipient of input from the retina, and a disputed input from the superior colliuculus (SC; hatched line). The PIm in turn relays to the middle temporal (MT) area, the medial superior temporal area (MST) and the fundus of the superior temporal area (FST); all components of the dorsal stream. The central medial (cm) and posterior (p) subdivisions of the PI also connect with dorsal stream areas MST, FST and the crescent of the middle temporal area (MTc). The central lateral subdivision of the PI (PIcl) and the ventrolateral (vl) subdivision of PL are heavily connected with the ventral stream associated areas V1, V2, V3 and V4. Other subdvisions have indirect connectivity with the visual cortex. The dorsal medial (dm) subdivision of PL projects to the inferior parietal cortex and the dosolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The medial pulvinar (PM), which possesses a lateral (l) and medial (m) subdivision projects to the temporal and parietal cortex, while the PMm also projects to the DLPFC, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and amygdala. The PM has been suggested to be recipient of input from the SC (hatched line), as has the PL