Lecture 16

Question 1

Basal ganglia functions

Answer 1

Predicts the effects of various actions

Makes and executes action plans

Question 2

Parts of basal ganglia located in cerebrum

Answer 2

Caudate, Putamen and Globus pallidus

Question 3

Parts of basal ganglia located in diencephalon

Answer 3

Subthalamic nucleus

Question 4

Parts of basal ganglia located in midbrain

Answer 4

Substantia nigra

Question 5

Neurotransmitter Cortical motor areas produce excitation of the striatum

Answer 5

Glutamate

Question 6

Neurotransmitter produced by Substantia nigra

Answer 6

dopamine

Question 7

Output of the basal ganglia motor circuit regulates

Answer 7

Muscle contraction
Muscle force
Multi-joint movements
Sequence of movements
and most importantly, the size of movement

Question 8

Stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) regulates contraction of

Answer 8

postural and girdle muscles via the lateral reticulospinal neurons

Question 9

Stimulation of the midbrain locomotor region elicits rhythm

Answer 9

lower limb movements similar to walking or running

Question 10

Globus pallidus INTERNUS main functions

Answer 10

Inhibits the motor thalamus
Inhibits the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN)
Inhibits the midbrain locomotor region
Overall action to reduce size of motor output

Question 11

Head of the caudate function in loops

Answer 11

executive functions like decision making, goal directed, planning and learning

Question 12

Body of the caudate function in loops

Answer 12

A part of the oculomotor loop

Makes decision about eye movements and spatial attention

Question 13

Ventral striatum functions in loops

Answer 13

limbic functions

Question 14

Head of caudate and substantia nigra functions in loops

Answer 14

behavior control

Question 15

Putamen and globus pallidus functions in loops

Answer 15

motor control

Question 16

Neurotransmitter for the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN)

Answer 16

Acetylcholine

Question 17

Parkinson’s disease symptoms

Answer 17

Tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia/akinesia, “mask-like” facial expressions

Question 18

Death of acetylcholine-producing cells in Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus what happens?

Answer 18

Leads to increased postural muscle movements due to disinhibition of the reticulospinal tracts

Question 19

Death of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra compacta. What happens?

Answer 19

decreased voluntary movements due to loss of dopamine to putamen

Question 20

Clinical Features of Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 20

Shuffling gait
Autonomic dysfunction
Sleep disorders
Psychiatric symptoms, depression in 50%
Dementia at end stage 20-30%

Unpredictable speed of progression

Question 21

Akinesia

Answer 21

loss of automatic movements

blinking, swallowing, protective reflexes

Question 22

Huntington’s disease

Answer 22

Autosomal dominant disorder
Excessive motor output from cerebral cortex
Caused by mHTT protein is responsible for cell loss and gliosis of the striatum (basal ganglia) and thalamus resulting in severe atrophy and loss of the inhibitory pathway.
Look back at indirect pathway