Confocal image showing inhibitory neurons projecting from the lateral hypothalamus (LH) to the paraventricular thalamus (PVT). Anterograde viral tracing revealed that LH-derived axons (cyan) densely innervate the calretinin (CR)-positive core of the PVT (yellow), with minimal spread into the surrounding transition zone. This selective targeting produces a strong alignment between CR fluorescence and axon density, highlighting that inhibitory LH inputs converge onto the PVT core. Such precise connectivity underscores the role of the PVT core as a critical hub for integrating hypothalamic signals into thalamic circuits regulating stress, arousal, and motivated behavior. See the article by László Biró et al. for more information. Cover image: László Biró