The basal ganglia are a group of nuclei in the brain associated with motor and learning functions. However, no single function can be definitively assigned to the mammalian basal ganglia.

History

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The acceptance that the basal ganglia system constitutes one major cerebral system, in comparison to others has been slow to appear. The first anatomical identification of distinct subcortical structures was published by Thomas Willis in 1664. For many years, the term corpus striatum was used to describe a large group of subcortical elements, some of which were later discovered to be functionally unrelated. Additionally, the putamen and the caudate nucleus were not linked together. The putamen was thought to be associated to the pallidum in what used to be called the "nucleus lenticularis" (see lentiform nucleus on the fig.). Pioneering work by Cécile and Oskar Vogt (1941) greatly simplified the description of the basal ganglia by proposing the term striatum to describe the group of structures consisting of the caudate nucleus, the putamen and the mass linking them ventrally, the fundus. The striatum gets its name from the striated appearance created by radiating dense bundles of striato-pallido-nigral axons, described by anatomist Kinnear Wilson as "pencil-like". The anatomical link of the striatum with its primary targets, the pallidum and the substantia nigra was later discovered. Together, these structures constitute, the striato-pallido-nigral bundle, which is the core of the basal ganglia. This nerve bundle forms the so-called "comb bundle of Edinger" when it crosses the internal capsule. Additional structures that later became associated with the basal ganglia are the "body of Luys" (1865) (nucleus of Luys on the figure) or subthalamic nucleus, whose lesion was known to produce movement disorders. More recently, other areas such as the central complex (centre médian-parafascicular) and the pedunculopontine complex have been thought to be regulators of the basal ganglia. At the beginning of the 20th century, the basal ganglia system was associated with motor functions, as lesions of these areas would often result in disordered movement in humans (chorea, athetosis, Parkinson's disease).

Anatomical subdivisions

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There is now no snow on my Basal Ganglia book website due to it making the pages freeze ironically. http://tinyurl.com/yjjodma
twistedjamie (Jamie Penn) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:22:47 -0000
There is now no snow on my Basal Ganglia book website due to it making the pages freeze ironically. http://tinyurl.com/yjjodma
Chapter 13 is now online of my free crime/thriller book BASAL GANGLIA http://basalgangliabook.wordpress.com ENJOY
twistedjamie (Jamie Penn) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:58:03 -0000
Chapter 13 is now online of my free crime/thriller book BASAL GANGLIA http://basalgangliabook.wordpress.com ENJOY
@Dmaco It probably won't be called Basal Ganglia when/if its published. It's a part of the brain that controls speech, movement etc.
twistedjamie (Jamie Penn) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:02:13 -0000
@Dmaco It probably won't be called Basal Ganglia when/if its published. It's a part of the brain that controls speech, movement etc.
@twistedjamie just out of curiosity, what made you name your book basal ganglia?
Dmaco (Debra McAndrew) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:59:09 -0000
@twistedjamie just out of curiosity, what made you name your book basal ganglia?
Chapter 13 online tomorrow of my free book Basal Ganglia http://tinyurl.com/yjjodma FREE CRIME/THRILLER. Read first 12 chapters.
twistedjamie (Jamie Penn) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:55:15 -0000
Chapter 13 online tomorrow of my free book Basal Ganglia http://tinyurl.com/yjjodma FREE CRIME/THRILLER. Read first 12 chapters.
Chapter 13 of my free online book Basal Ganglia is released tomorrow. http://basalgangliabook.wordpress.com READ FIRST 12 CHAPTERS.
twistedjamie (Jamie Penn) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:24:03 -0000
Chapter 13 of my free online book Basal Ganglia is released tomorrow. http://basalgangliabook.wordpress.com READ FIRST 12 CHAPTERS.

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