The Basal Ganglia

I. Functional anatomy

A. Input and output components

cerebral cortex BG thalamus (VA)

frontal lobe.

B. Parallel circuits

C. Neurotransmitters

D. Intrinsic circuitry of the basal ganglia and movement without.

II. Regional anatomy

A. Internal capsule and striatum

B. Series of coronal sections revealing anatomy and relationships of the nuclei.

C. Midbrain sections showing substantia nigra.

I. Functional anatomy

Introduction: Basal ganglia are subcortical structures that are part of cerebral hemispheres. They receive input from and send regulatory signals back to the cortex (frontal lobes).

Regulation of movement, cognitive, motivation, and emotion.

A. Input and Output Components of the Basal Ganglia

VL

Know this figure!!

The Striatum shown in relation to ventricles

Note that caudate n. and putamen are connected by cell bridges (spanning internal capsule)

B. Parallel circuits – anatomical “loops” subserve the various functions.

Input-output nuclei specifically assigned to these ’jobs’ are outlined and specific frontal cortical projection areas are illustrated in Fig. 14-3.

“Parallel circuits” Fig. 14-3

Skeletomotor loop:Control of skel muscle

Oculomotor loop:Control of extraocular muscles

Association loop:Role in cognition

Limbic loop:Maturation/emotions

Fig. 14-3 - Loops

C. BG Neurotransmitters – used in the various BG circuits and outlined (Fig. 14-4)

Glu/Asp: excitatoryGABA: inhibitory (major neurotransmitter of the BG)Important neuromodulators:

dopamine (from SN pc to striatum)acetylcholine (connect within striatum)enkephalin, substance P (out of striatum direct + indirect pathways

D. Intrinsic circuitry of the basal ganglia – and movement disorders.

Refer to Box 14-1.

Direct and indirect striatal output pathways:

direct excitatory to thalamus (VA)

indirect inhibitory to thalamic target neurons.

Direct path: what happens when you inhibit an inhibitory signal (disinhibition = double negative)?

Indirect path: opposite effect on thalamus (-) (and ultimately, cerebral cortex.

Direct and indirect paths (Fig. 14-15)

Filled: inhibitory; open, excitatory

Indirect path: Note that the subthalamic n. is excitatoryInhibotory neurons from striatum (putamen) external pallidal segments

Double negative (disinhibition) excites the output of the STN, which will drive inhibitory output from Gpi

SNrThalamus

{Internal segment of globus pallidus and SN pc}

Therefore, the inhibition is increased inhibitory output.

This model helps us understand the mechanism of hypokinetic disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s Disease) and hyperkinetic disorders (e.g., Huntington’s Disease and hemiballism).

Parkinson’s Disease: decreased dopamine from SN decreased inhibition of the inhibition excessive inhibitory output classic signs of PD (hypokinesia, bradykinesia) – via decreased thalamic signals to cortex decreased corticospinal outflow.

Huntington’s Disease: decreased striatal (enkephalin) output and decreased inhibition of Gpo enhanced excitatory effects of indirect path decreased inhibition via direct path hyperkinesis.

Hemiballism: similar mechanism (subthalamic n. lesion).

Parkinson’s: increased indirect

• Most modern therapies for PD have involved lesions without the circuit in an effect to re-established the balance (e.g., STN lesion)

Hyperkinesis: increased direct

II. Regional Anatomy

A. Internal capsule and striatum – recall how the striatum is divided into caudate n. and putamen by the anterior limb of the internal capsule and that cellular bridges (visible in horizontal section) exist between these (Fig. 14-6).

Note also that internal and external segments of globus pallidus, posterior limb, and the thalamic nuclei below (Fig. 14-8).

B. Series of coronal sections revealing anatomy of the nuclei and their spatial relationships.

Horizontal Section Through Basal Ganglia (Fig. 14-6)

Anterior section (Fig. 14-8)

Note: head of caudate, nucleus accumbens, andcell bridges are prominent here.

The head of caudate is often used as a radioligand landmark – normallybuldges into anterior horn of lateral ventricles.

Head of caudate = radiological landmark (Fig. 14-10)

Fig. 14-11

The globus pallidus and ventral pallidum are beneath the anterior commissure.

Subthalamic nucleus (Fig. 14-14)

Mid-section

Midbrain through the substantia nigra (Fig. 14-16).