CMD 377 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Subthalamic Nucleus, Athetosis, Caudate Nucleus

• School: URI
• Department: Communicative Disorders
• Course: CMD 377
• Professor: Mikyong Kim

Document Summary

Cmd 377 - lecture 18 - the basal ganglia. Refers to a group of subcortical nuclei. Subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra are not physically apart of the basal ganglia. Just have close connections that influence the functions. Putamen + globus pallidus = lenticular nucleus. Contains closely packed, pigmented neurons that produce dopamine. The principle circuit of the basal ganglia is a loop: Multiple cortical areas basal ganglia thalamus one of the cortical areas (especially the frontal lobe) There are multiple versions of this loop. Each using different cortical areas and a distinctive portion of the basal ganglia. Damage will result in movement disorders (dyskinesia) Chorea quick and random movement and big in amplitude. Athetosis slow and writhing, continuous movement. Can be big or small in amplitude. These movements can be dangerous and tiring. Dystonia disorder of the muscle tone. Symptoms vary in relative severity and onset. Characteristically involving the hands in a pill-rolling movement.