Related Experiment Videos
Basal ganglia: functional anatomy and physiology. Part 1
1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Journal of Child Neurology
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Basal ganglia research has evolved from viewing the striatum as homogeneous to recognizing its compartments and functional units. Dopamine
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroanatomy
- Neurophysiology
Background:
- Historical view of basal ganglia structure (Wilson, 1925) as homogeneous.
- Evolution of understanding basal ganglia nuclei, transmitters, and connectivity.
- Recognition of the neostriatum's compartmentalization into striosomes, matrisomes, and matrix.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review advances in basal ganglia structure and connectivity.
- Present current concepts of neuronal populations, transmitters, and input/output.
- Update understanding of dopamine's role and connectivity patterns.
Main Methods:
- Review of neuroanatomic and neurophysiologic studies.
- Analysis of staining characteristics, connectivity, and function.
- Electrophysiologic studies to identify functional units.
Main Results:
- Neostriatum is compartmentalized (striosomes, matrisomes, matrix) and contains functional neuronal clusters.
- Globus pallidus and substantia nigra pars reticulata are major output nuclei.
- Precise somatotopic organization exists throughout the basal ganglia system.
- Dopamine's role is complex: inhibitory on external pallidum projections, facilitatory on internal pallidum/SNr projections.
- Connectivity is parallel, not serial, with fast (GABA) and slow (neuropeptide-modulated) systems.
Conclusions:
- Basal ganglia structure and function are highly organized and complex.
- Current understanding supersedes earlier models of homogeneity and serial connectivity.
- Dopamine's modulatory role is critical and context-dependent.
- Parallel processing via distinct fast and slow pathways.