The Basal Ganglia and Motor Control

This paper briefly reviews the functional anatomy of the basal ganglia and their relationships with the thalamocortical system. The basal ganglia, including the striatum, pallidum, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra, are involved in a number of parallel, functionally segregated cortical-subco...

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Main Author: Henk J. Groenewegen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2003-01-01
Series:Neural Plasticity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/NP.2003.107
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author Henk J. Groenewegen
author_facet Henk J. Groenewegen
author_sort Henk J. Groenewegen
collection DOAJ
description This paper briefly reviews the functional anatomy of the basal ganglia and their relationships with the thalamocortical system. The basal ganglia, including the striatum, pallidum, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra, are involved in a number of parallel, functionally segregated cortical-subcortical circuits. These circuits support a wide range of sensorimotor, cognitive and emotional-motivational brain functions. A main role of the basal ganglia is the learning and selection of the most appropriate motor or behavioral programs. The internal functional organization of the basal ganglia is very well suited for such selection mechanisms, both in development and in adulthood. The question of whether clumsiness may be, at least in part, attributed to dysfunction of the basal ganglia is discussed in the context of the differential, complementary, or interactive roles of the basal ganglia and the cerebellum in the development of motor control.
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spelling doaj-art-c175f3faaebe43ef856c9589925dcbdc2025-08-20T03:23:30ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432003-01-01101-210712010.1155/NP.2003.107The Basal Ganglia and Motor ControlHenk J. Groenewegen0Department of Anatomy, Research Institute Neurosciences Vrije Universiteit, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Van der Boechorststraat 7, Amsterdam 1081 BT, The NetherlandsThis paper briefly reviews the functional anatomy of the basal ganglia and their relationships with the thalamocortical system. The basal ganglia, including the striatum, pallidum, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra, are involved in a number of parallel, functionally segregated cortical-subcortical circuits. These circuits support a wide range of sensorimotor, cognitive and emotional-motivational brain functions. A main role of the basal ganglia is the learning and selection of the most appropriate motor or behavioral programs. The internal functional organization of the basal ganglia is very well suited for such selection mechanisms, both in development and in adulthood. The question of whether clumsiness may be, at least in part, attributed to dysfunction of the basal ganglia is discussed in the context of the differential, complementary, or interactive roles of the basal ganglia and the cerebellum in the development of motor control.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/NP.2003.107
spellingShingle Henk J. Groenewegen
The Basal Ganglia and Motor Control
Neural Plasticity
title The Basal Ganglia and Motor Control
title_full The Basal Ganglia and Motor Control
title_fullStr The Basal Ganglia and Motor Control
title_full_unstemmed The Basal Ganglia and Motor Control
title_short The Basal Ganglia and Motor Control
title_sort basal ganglia and motor control
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/NP.2003.107
work_keys_str_mv AT henkjgroenewegen thebasalgangliaandmotorcontrol
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