Modulation of Movement by the Basal Ganglia - Projections from the Basal Ganglia to Other Brain Regions

5 important questions on Modulation of Movement by the Basal Ganglia - Projections from the Basal Ganglia to Other Brain Regions

Give the path of projections from caudate to superior colliculus.

The neurons in the caudate project on the substantia nigra pars reticulata and from there they travel towards the superior colliculus

Give the path of projections from putamen to the cortex.

From the putamen neurons travel via the globus pallidus internal towards the thalamus (verntral anterior and ventral lateral nucleus) and eventually terminate in the cortex.

Are the efferent cells of the globus pallidus and substantia nigra inhibitory or excitory? And why?

They are inhibitory because they release the inhibitoir neurotransmitter GABA. And because they serve as the main output zone of the basal ganglia, the basal ganglia have a mainly inhibitoir purpose.
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What structures are tonically active in the basal ganglia? (And thus constantly inhibiting because they transmit GABA)

The globus pallidus and substantia nigra pars reticulata.

Explain the cascade of events from input to basal ganglia to output of basal ganglia. What role does the thalamus play?

The corpus striatum (caudate and putamen) receives input. Axons from the putamen inhibit the tonically active globus palidus interna, thus level out the inhibitory effect of the globus pallidus. Axons from the globus pallidus interna synapse at the thalamus, whom is not inhibited anymore. Because of this disinhibition the thalamus can be excited by other inputs. The exitation of the thalamus leads to excitation of the motor cortex and thus eventually of the lower motor neurons.

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