Fields of Forel is an area in a deep part of the brain known as the diencephalon

Diencephalon

The diencephalon is the region of the vertebrate neural tube which gives rise to posterior forebrain structures. In development, the forebrain develops from the prosencephalon, the most anterior vesicle of the neural tube which later forms both the diencephalon and the...

. It is below the thalamus

Thalamus

The thalamus is a midline paired symmetrical structure within the brains of vertebrates, including humans. It is situated between the cerebral cortex and midbrain, both in terms of location and neurological connections...

 and consists of three defined, white matter areas of the subthalamus

Subthalamus

The subthalamus is a part of the diencephalon. Its major part is the subthalamic nucleus. Functionally, it also encompasses the globus pallidus, which is topographically part of the telencephalon.-Anatomy:...

. These three regions are named "H fields" (for Haubenfelder).

The first, field H1, is the thalamic fasciculus

Thalamic fasciculus

The thalamic fasciculus is a component of the subthalamus. It is sometimes considered synonymous with "field H1 of Forel". Nerve fibres forming a composite bundle containing cerebellothalamic and pallidothalamic fibres that is insinuated between the thalamus and zona incerta.The thalamic...

, a horizontal white matter tract between the subthalamus and the thalamus. These fibers are projections to the thalamus from the basal ganglia

Basal ganglia

The basal ganglia are a group of nuclei of varied origin in the brains of vertebrates that act as a cohesive functional unit. They are situated at the base of the forebrain and are strongly connected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus and other brain areas...

 (globus pallidus

Globus pallidus

The globus pallidus also known as paleostriatum, is a sub-cortical structure of the brain. Topographically, it is part of the telencephalon, but retains close functional ties with the subthalamus - both of which are part of the extrapyramidal motor system...

) and the cerebellum

Cerebellum

The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...

. H1 is separated from H2 by the zona incerta

Zona incerta

The zona incerta is a horizontally elongated region of gray matter cells in the subthalamus below the thalamus. Its connections project extensively over the brain from the cerebral cortex down into the spinal cord....

.

Field H2 (sometimes synonymous with "lenticular fasciculus

Lenticular fasciculus

The lenticular fasciculus is a tract connecting the globus pallidus to the Thalamic fasciculus. The thalamic fasciculus runs into the Thalamus...

") is also made up of projections from the pallidum to the thalamus, but these course the subthalamic nucleus (dorsal).

Field H3 (aka the prerubral field), is a large zone of mixed gray and white matter located just rostral (In front) of the red nucleus.

External links

1. http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Fields_of_forel
2. Forel, A. (1877). "Untersuchungen über die Haubenregion und ihre oberen Verknüpfungen im Gehirne des Menschen und einiger Säugethiere, mit Beiträgen zu den Methoden der Gehirnuntersuchung". Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten 7: 393–495. doi:10.1007/BF02041873.