Basal ganglia
Anatomy
Striatum
Caudate
Putamen
Lentiform nucleus
Globus Pallidus
internal (GPI)
External (GPe)
Subthalamic nucleus
Substantia nigra
Pars compacta
Pars reticulata
Input to the B.G. motor circuit
Movement
Basal ganglia are involved in the regulation of motor activity
Stimulate specific movements and inhibit unwanted movements
Increasing evidence suggests basal ganglia are also involved in non-motor tasks
Motor loop
Modulate upper motor neurons in the motor cortex via a feedback loop
Input to the basal ganglia comes from the associative and motor cortex
Basal ganglia output is via the thalamus which feeds back to the cortex