Abstract: The basal ganglia comprise subcortical regions of the brain that are involved in both motor and cognitive functions. The definition of the basal ganglia has evolved over the years as functional relationships between regions that were previously believed to be unrelated began to emerge. Classically, the "basal ganglia" included the caudate-putamen, the pallidum, and the amygdala. In the human brain, the caudate nucleus and putamen are separated by the internal capsule and have a characteristic "striated" appearance caused by the presence of bundles of myelinated fibers (pencils of Willis), hence the name "striatum." More modern definitions of the basal ganglia include the substantia nigra and subthalamic nucleus, which have close functional relationships with the striatum and the pallidum. The amygdala is now considered to be a separate functional entity, although it has anatomical connections with some regions of the basal ganglia.
Publication Year: 2003
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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