FIGURE 5.

Emotional circuits triggered by the SC: visual and non-visual stimuli carrying emotional content could be processed exclusively by subcortical circuits or to reach the frontal cortex resulting or not in a motor non-conscious or conscious response respectively. The reward dopaminergic system is mediated by the Susbtantia njgra (SN)and the nucleo accubens (NA); the alerting adrenergic system by the locus ceruleous (LC);the cholinergic system by the substantia innomminata (SI). The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) is reached through the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Some basic emotions like defensive, reproductive, maternal or pain related behaviors are mediated by connections with the periacueductal gray matter (PAG). Through these ways the SC activates simultaneously several attentional, autonomic, endocrine and cognitive functions.