PSY 3061 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Substantia Nigra, Basal Ganglia, Thalamus
Document Summary
Basal ganglia helps execute motor commands (ex. Move your left leg or right leg up, reach up and grab a coffee cup, etc: basal ganglia (bg) modulates motor commands. The bg initiates new movements and stops ongoing movements via the thalamus. Inhibits motor movements from occurring until it selects the right one: a chain reaction takes place for the bg to either start or stop a movement. The start of this chain depends on dopamine input from the substantia nigra: without an input of dopamine, the bg has an inhibitory hold on motor commands. To start or stop a movement, this hold must be. Released : basal ganglia stimulated = releases hold (there needs to be a burst of dopamine in order for there to be a release burst of dopamine comes from neurons). In parkinson"s, dopamine levels are low because cells of the substantia nigra begin to.
