Basal Ganglia

Question 1

Which basal ganglia disorder is characterized by abnormal tone and posture including choreoathetoid movements?

Answer 1

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy

Question 2

Which basal ganglia disorder is characterized by early onset gait unsteadiness, axial rigidity, freezing of gait, a tendency to fall backwards, and inability to control gaze (particularly vertical gaze)?

Answer 2

Progressive supranuclear palsy

Question 3

Basal Ganglia Loops:

Goal-Directed Behavior

What does it regulate?

Answer 3

• decision making
• planning
• choosing actions in context

Question 4

Dystonia:

Hypokinetic or Hyperkinetic?

Answer 4

Hyperkinetic

Question 5

Which basal ganglia disorder is characterized by hypokinesia affecting the upper body combined with rigidity and/or resting tremor, and possibly eventual unsteadiness, freezing of gait, and mask-like facial expression?

Answer 5

Parkinson’s disease

Question 6

Which basal ganglia disorder is characterized by early cognitive decline, visual hallucinations, rigidity, shuffling gait, tremors, apathy, and depression?

Answer 6

Lewy body dementia

(Note: these symptoms may all be present with Parkinson’s disease, with the primary difference being they occur earlier with Lewy body dementia, later with Parkinson’s.)

Question 7

Progressive supranuclear palsy:

Hypokinetic or Hyperkinetic?

Answer 7

Hypokinetic

Question 8

Which basal ganglia loop regulates:

• decision making
• planning
• choosing actions in context

Answer 8

Goal-Directed Bahavior Loop

Question 9

Lewy body dementia:

Hypokinetic or Hyperkinetic?

Answer 9

Hypokinetic

Question 10

Basal Ganglia Loops:

Oculomotor Loop

What does it regulate?

Answer 10

• visuospatial awareness/attention
• eye movements

(think of reflexive prosaccades,

directing the eyes to quickly move

across words on a page)

Question 11

Huntington’s Disease:

Hypokinetic or Hyperkinetic?

Answer 11

Hyperkinetic

Question 12

Deficits in which basal ganglia loop could lead to

facial masking and flat affect?

Answer 12

Emotion/Limbic Loop

Question 13

Which basal ganglia loop regulates:

• social approval recognition
• self-regulation
• maintenance of attention
• stimulus-response learning (perform a particular behavior when a certain stimulus is present)

Answer 13

Social Behavior Loop

Question 14

Basal Ganglia Loops:

Motor Loop

What does it regulate?

Answer 14

(The Four M’s)

• Muscle contraction
• Muscle force
• Multi-joint movement
• Movement sequencing

Question 15

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy:

Hypokinetic or Hyperkinetic?

Answer 15

Hyperkinetic

Question 16

Basal Ganglia Loops:

Emotion/Limbic

What does it regulate?

Answer 16

• reward-seeking
• addictive behaviors
• integrating emotions and facial expression

Question 17

Which basal ganglia disorder is characterized by abrupt, repetitive, stereotyped movement including vocal and motor tics?

Answer 17

Tourette syndrome

Question 18

Which basal ganglia disorder is characterized by involuntary sustained muscle contractions that cause abnormal postures or twisting and/or repetitive movements?

Answer 18

Dystonia

Question 19

Tourette syndrome:

Hypokinetic or Hyperkinetic?

Answer 19

Hyperkinetic

Question 20

Multiple system atrophy:

Hypokinetic or Hyperkinetic?

Answer 20

Hypokinetic

Question 21

Which basal ganglia loop regulates:

• reward-seeking
• addictive behaviors
• integration of emotions and facial expression

Answer 21

Emotion/Limbic Loop

Question 22

Basal Ganglia Loops:

Social Behavior

What does it regulate?

Answer 22

• social approval recognition
• self-regulation
• maintenance of attention
• stimulus-response learning (perform a particular behavior when a certain stimulus is present)

Question 23

Which basal ganglia disorder is characterized by akinesia/hypokinesia, rigidity, dysarthria, truncal and gait ataxia (narrow based), and autonomic dysfunction?

Answer 23

Multiple System Atrophy

(Note: this is distinguished from Parkinson’s by the presence of cerebellar signs - dysarthria typified by a quivering voice, ataxia - and a more rapid progression of the disease. Autonomic dysfunction may include orthostatic hypotension, erectile dysfunction, bladder dysfunction, occurring earlier in cases of MSA than with PD.)

Question 24

Deficits in which basal ganglia loop could lead to problems with distractibility, poor concentration, and poor short term memory?

Answer 24

Goal-Directed Behavior Loop

Question 25

Deficits in which basal ganglia loop could lead to

impulsivity and poor judgement?

Answer 25

Social Behavior Loop