2.29 Basal Ganglia

Question 1

Why are basal ganglia not actually ganglia?

Answer 1

• not in the CNS

- now called basal nuclei

Question 2

What are basal ganglia overall?

Answer 2

functional loops that are connected with the pyramidal tracts (motor tracts)

Question 3

What can damage to basal ganglia cause?

Answer 3

abnormal behavior and movement

Question 4

basal ganglia affect this system

Answer 4

limbic (emotion, cognition)

Question 5

damage to caudate

Answer 5

get problems with decision making

Question 6

head of caudate

Answer 6

• helps take all sensory input in to make appropriate decisions
• integrates surroundings and inputs

Question 7

premotor cortex (function)

Answer 7

• aka prefrontal cortex

- similar functions for motor planning to head of caudate

Question 8

How do the head of caudate and premotor cortex work?

Answer 8

work together

Question 9

reading social cues requires

Answer 9

combo of input from basal ganglia and amygdala

Question 10

striatum

Answer 10

caudate + putamen

Question 11

lentiform nucleus

Answer 11

putamen + globus pallidus

Question 12

names of substantia nigra parts

Answer 12

2 separate structures

SNpc (pars compacta)
SNpr (pars reticularis)

Question 13

Which part of the substantia nigra is pigmented?

Answer 13

SNpc

Question 14

Where does pigment of substantia nigra come from?

Answer 14

pigment comes from neuromelanin

- expressed in dopaminergic (emotion/movement) and cholinergic (memory formation)cells in the brain

Question 15

function of melanin/neuromelanin

Answer 15

neutralizes free radicals

Question 16

When is neuromelanin expressed most?

Answer 16

• when you’re very young and very old

- provides protection for cells

Question 17

function of SNpc

Answer 17

widespread modulation of BG and movement/emotion

Question 18

SNpr

Answer 18

• major BG output nucleus
• functionally different from SNpc
• modulation

Question 19

SN

Answer 19

substantia nigra

Question 20

STN

Answer 20

subthalamic nucleus

Question 21

blood supply to SN and STN

Answer 21

perforating branches of

• posterior cerebral
• posterior communicating

Question 22

blood supply to striatum

Answer 22

• perforating branches of middle cerebral artery (MCA)

- aka lenticulostriate arteries

Question 23

blood supply to globus pallidus

Answer 23

anterior choroidal artery (branches off of the carotid artery)

Question 24

blood supply to caudate

Answer 24

branches of anterior cerebral (medial striate)

Question 25

What type of movement do the basal ganglia influence?

Answer 25

influence voluntary movement

Question 26

How do basal ganglia influence voluntary movement (overall)?

Answer 26

• senses are integrated
• prefrontal cortex and head of caudate make decisions on motor output given the circumstances
• integrate emotions, stress level, what’s going on around you, etc.