Subcorticale

Subcorticale refers to brain structures located beneath the cerebral cortex, including deep gray matter, relay nuclei, and brainstem components. These regions are densely interconnected with cortical areas and participate in motor control, autonomic regulation, emotion, memory, and arousal.

Prominent subcortical nuclei form the basal ganglia: the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and subthalamic nucleus. They form circuits with the cortex and thalamus that refine and regulate movement, procedural learning, and reward processing. Dysfunction in these circuits is associated with Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and other movement disorders.

The limbic system, consisting of the hippocampus, amygdala, cingulate gyrus, septal nuclei, and mammillary bodies, supports memory formation, emotional processing, and motivation. These structures interact with the hypothalamus to link affect with autonomic responses and endocrine regulation.

The thalamus and hypothalamus serve distinct yet interconnected roles. The thalamus acts as a central relay and integrative hub for sensory and motor information and contributes to wakefulness and consciousness. The hypothalamus regulates endocrine and autonomic function, temperature, hunger and thirst, sleep–wake cycles, and hormonal secretion via the pituitary.

The brainstem, including the midbrain, pons, and medulla, houses essential autonomic centers and the reticular activating system that influences arousal and basic life-sustaining functions. The cerebellum coordinates movement, balance, and motor learning, communicating with cortical and subcortical networks to support motor and cognitive processes.

Clinical relevance and imaging focus on subcortical structures for diagnosing movement disorders, epilepsy, and affective conditions. Treatments such as deep brain stimulation target subcortical nuclei (for example, the subthalamic nucleus or globus pallidus) to alleviate motor symptoms.