lateral dorsal nucleus of thalamus lateral dorsal nucleus of thalamus the lateral dorsal nucleus is a nucleus of the thalamus. it is the most anterior of the dorsal lateral nuclei. lateral dorsal nucleus of thalamusthalamic nucleidetailsidentifierslatinnucleus dorsalis lateralisneuronames326ta98a14.1.08.608ta25696fma62176anatomical terms of neuroanatomy it acts in concert with the anterior nuclei of thalamus. it receives significant input from several subdivisions of visual cortex, and has a primary output to parietal cortex on the dorsolateral cortical convexity, giving it access to limbic forebrain nuclei important for emotion and behavior functions.