Basal 'Ganglia' Flashcards
Describe the anatomic and cellular components of the basal ganglia system, its sub-components, and their relationship to the thalamus and amygdala
Describe the organization of basal ganglia loop circuits, including major inputs and outputs of the system
Explain the action of dopamine delivery to the striatum, its role in initiating desired movements, and its role in establishing procedural memory
Describe the role of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) in generating locomotor patterns
Explain how phasic release of dopamine for a particular motor loop gets activated
Describe the theoretical sequence of activation of motor patterns
The frontal cortex translates idea of moving into activation of the striosomal striato-nigral pathway
Striosomal pathway activates the cluster of dopamine-containing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) which innervate the matrix MSNs storing the desired motor program
Dopamine is released (phasic) on MSNs of the desired loops
Dopamine facilitates the direct pathways of these loops and inhibits their corresponding indirect loops, resulting in disinhibition of motor thalamus
Disinhibition of motor thalamus activates PMA which can relay the desired motor commands to motor cortex
The desired movement occurs
Explain how the basal ganglia ‘chunks’ isolated movements into action sequences
Differentiate between the mechanisms of disease underlying Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s chorea, and list the three cardinal signs of Parkinson’s
Review the blood supply to the basal ganglia and consider the consequences of infarction to this supply
Head of Caudate: Recurrent artery of Heubner from ACA
Body of Caudate: lenticulostriate from MCA
Tail of Caudate: Anterior choroidals
Putamen and globus pallidus: lenticulostriate from MCA
