Lecture 15 (3/26)

Question 1

Basal Ganglia

Answer 1

A collection of interconnected, anatomical structures that are found below the cortex

Functionally the basal ganglia is involved in the processing of complex movement patterns and filters other signals that are going to the motor cortex

Also involved in:
Processing learning and memory
Processing intonation and prosodic info

Question 2

Caudate Nucleus

Answer 2

A structure of the basal ganglia

The most anterior of the basal ganglia

Has a large head that is located in front of the thalamus and a long tail that curves/arches back over the thalamus

Question 3

Putamen

Answer 3

A structure of the basal ganglia

Located lateral to the head of the caudate

Separated from the caudate by the internal capsule

Question 4

Globus Pallidus

Answer 4

A structure of the basal ganglia

Lies medially to the putamen

Question 5

Substantia Niagra

Answer 5

A structure of the basal ganglia

A nucleus that is found in the midbrain of the mesencephalon

Releases dopamine

Damage to this nucleus causes Parkinson’s disease

Question 6

Subthalamic Nucleus

Answer 6

A structure of the basal ganglia

Lies below the thalamus and above the anterior portion of the substantial niagra

Question 7

Damage to the Basal Ganglia

Answer 7

Affects communication, specifically speech production

Disorders:
Parkinson’s disease
Huntington’s disease
Hemiballismus

Question 8

Parkinson’s disease

Answer 8

Results from biochemical changes in the substantial niagra

Symptoms include:
Shaking of the hand/tremor of the limbs
Pill-rolling tremor 
Muscular rigidity 
Difficulty walking
Facial muscles show us masked faces
Overall speech shows a type of dysarthria known hypo kinetic dysarthria

Question 9

Hypokinetic Dysarthria

Answer 9

A type of dysarthria that includes:

Breathy voice
Imprecise consonant articulation
Hypernasality
mono-pitch

Question 10

Huntington’s disease

Answer 10

A genetically transmitted disease

Pathology lies in the caudate nucleus

Symptoms:
Choreiform movements of the face and upper extremities - patient appears restless
Patient is in constant movement - movements are fragmentary, random, and rapid
After several years of the disease, mental deterioration/dementia can occur

Question 11

Hyperkinetic Dysarthria

Answer 11

Characteristics:
Variable rate of speech
Imprecise consonant articulation
Irregular articulatory breakdown
Strained, harsh voice quality 
Inability to sustain phonation

Question 12

Hemiballismus

Answer 12

Disease where the pathology is located in the subthalmic nucleus
Involves wild movement