Biography of a brain structure: studying the diencephalon as an epistemic object

摘要

This chapter will deal with the history of the diencephalon, written mainly from a sociological perspective. The diencephalon, located in the center of the brain, principally comprises the hypothalamus, the thalamus, and the pituitary and the pineal glands. Its spatial location between the cortex and the brainstem, and the close connections of the diencephalon to the endocrine system make it an important player in the functioning of the brain.