ORGANUM

Basal Ganglia Neuroanatomy

The basal ganglia is a cluster of nuclei found deep to the neocortex of the brain. It has a multitude of functions associated with reward and cognition but is primarily involved in motor control. In particular, the basal ganglia is considered to be a gatekeeping mechanism for the initiation of motor movement; effectively choosing which actions to allow and which actions to inhibit.

Nucelis of basal ganglia project to limbic and prefrontal regions of the thalamus and cortex and function in a similar way to manifest executive decision-making and reward or aversion emotional stimulation; A parkinson and Huntington disease which disturb motor control in markedly different contexts.