Basal ganglia

Basal ganglia is important for

automaticity and motivation

Thalamus

ventral lateral and ventral anterior send output to motor areas, and receive input from basal ganglia

Go pathway

cortex to striatum (glutamate), GP internal to thalamus (GABA), and then to the brainstem and spinal cord (glutamate)

STOP pathway

cortex to striatum (glutamate), GP external (GABA) GP internal GABA), thalamus (glutamate), brainstem (glutamate)

motor loop (GO)

precentral gyrus (primary motor cortex) to putamen, to the thalamus) to postcentral gyrus or primary sensory cortex.

motor loop (STOP)

precentral gyrus (primary motor cortex) to putamen, to the thalamus).

cognitive loop (GO)

association cortex, to caudate or nucleus accumbens to thalamus.

Cognitive loop (STOP)

association cortex, to caudate or nucleus accumbens to thalamus.

Huntington’s disease

too much Go. Genetic diseases causes death of cells in the straitum which causes loss of cognitive and emotional control, and chorea.

Parkinson’s Disease

Too much STOP. There are loss of dopamingeric cells in the substania nigra, can be treated with drugs. Akinesia, resting tremor, muscle rigidity.

Limbic System GO/STOP

caudate to nucleus to thalamus