The Corticostriatal and Corticosubthalamic Pathways: Two Entries, One Target. So What?

Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience

Abraham eMathai¹  Yoland eSmith¹ 

[1] Emory University;

关键词: Basal Ganglia;    Cerebral Cortex;    Deep Brain Stimulation;    Subthalamic Nucleus;    monkey;    Parkinson's disease;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnsys.2011.00064

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The basal ganglia receive cortical inputs through two main stations – the striatum and the subthalamic nucleus (STN). The information flowing along the corticostriatal system is transmitted to the basal ganglia circuitry via the direct and indirect striatofugal pathways, while information that flows through the subthalamic nucleus is transmitted along the so-called hyperdirect pathway. The functional significance of this dual entry system is not clear. Although the corticostriatal system has been thoroughly characterized anatomically and electrophysiologically, such is not the case for the corticosubthalamic system. In order to provide further insights into the intricacy of this complex anatomical organization, this review examines and compares the anatomical and functional organization of the corticostriatal and corticosubthalamic systems, and highlight some key issues that must be addressed to better understand the mechanisms by which these two neural systems may interact to regulate basal ganglia functions and dysfunctions.

【 授权许可】

Unknown