Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Comprehensive Profiling of Dopamine Regulation in Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area
Published on: August 10, 2012
Functional roles of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the dorsal striatum
Jeehaeh Do1, Jae-Ick Kim, Joseph Bakes
1Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea.
Abstract:
The dorsal striatum, with its functional microcircuits galore, serves as the primary gateway of the basal ganglia and is known to play a key role in implicit learning. Initially, excitatory inputs from the cortex and thalamus arrive on the direct and indirect pathways, where the precise flow of information is then regulated by local GABAergic interneurons. The balance of excitatory and inhibitory transmission in the dorsal striatum is modulated by neuromodulators such as dopamine and acetylcholine. Under pathophysiological states in the dorsal striatum, an alteration in excitatory and inhibitory transmission may underlie dysfunctional motor control. Here, we review the cellular connections and modulation of striatal microcircuits and propose that modulating the excitatory and inhibitory balance in synaptic transmission of the dorsal striatum is important for regulating locomotion.
Related Concept Videos
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is critical for...
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters
Classification of Neurotransmitters
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis

