Nucleus preopticus

The nucleus preopticus (also nucleus praeopticus, syn. Nucleus anterior) is a core area in the diencephalon . It lies above the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the anterior region of the hypothalamus . The preoptic nucleus is involved in the control of sexuality and lipid metabolism . The core area receives afferents from the stria terminalis and the amygdala . In men it is twice as large as in women. In addition, it plays an important role in synchronizing the NREM and REM sleep phases with the thalamocortical consciousness system. By controlling aminergic brainstem neurons, it prevents the incompatible states of deep sleep and wakefulness from occurring at the same time.

literature

• Rainer M. Bösel: The brain: a textbook of functional anatomy for psychology . W. Kohlhammer Verlag 2006, ISBN 9783170191839 , p. 106.
• Erhard Wischmeyer et al .: Pocket textbook Physiology Georg Thieme Verlag 2010, ISBN 9783131449818 , p. 792.