AQP4 and optic neuritis: For instance, patients with AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD and optic neuritis had lower volumes of the lateral geniculate nucleus, a major thalamic component of the visual pathway.61,104 In another study, volumes of the ventral posterior nucleus, a thalamic nucleus involved in relaying sensory information, were associated with the intensity of neuropathic pain in patients with AQP4-IgG+ NMOSD.54