Laterodorsal tegmental nucleus


The laterodorsal tegmental nucleus is a nucleus situated in the brainstem, spanning the midbrain tegmentum and the pontine tegmentum. Its location is one-third of the way from the pedunculopontine nucleus to the thalamus, inferior to the pineal gland.

Function

The laterodorsal tegmental nucleus sends cholinergic projections to many subcortical and cortical structures, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, cortex.
The laterodorsal tegmental nucleus may be involved in modulating sustained attention or in mediating alerting responses, and also in the generation of REM sleep.