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Connections With The Brain Stem:: Neurotransmitters in The Basal Ganglia
Connections With The Brain Stem:: Neurotransmitters in The Basal Ganglia
Connections With The Brain Stem:: Neurotransmitters in The Basal Ganglia
supplementary motor areas) and somatosensory association area and end at caudate nucleus.
After the signals pass from the cerebral cortex to the caudate nucleus, they are next transmitted to
the internal globus pallidus, then to the nuclei of the ventroanterior and ventrolateral thalamus, and finally
back to the prefrontal, premotor, and supplementary motor areas of the cerebral cortex, but with almost
none of the returning signals passing directly to the primary motor cortex.
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Figure 5: Neuronal pathways that secrete different types of neurotransmitter substances in the basal
ganglia. Ach; acetylcholine, GABA; gamma-aminobutyric acid.
The predominance of inhibitory neurons in the basal ganglia makes the above circuits (especially the
putamen circuit) negative-feedback loops that inhibit the excessive activity of the motor cortex (thus
preventing excessive and undesirable movements).