What is "medial geniculate nucleus"

n. The nucleus of the thalamus involved in the sense of audition, which receives projections from the inferior colliculus and projects to the primary auditory cortex.

The medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) or medial geniculate body (MGB) is part of the auditory thalamus and represents the thalamic relay between the inferior colliculus (IC) and the auditory cortex (AC). It is made up of a number of sub-nuclei that are distinguished by their neuronal morphology and density, by their afferent and efferent connections, and by the coding properties of their neurons. It is thought that the MGB influences the direction and maintenance of attention.