Basal Ganglia

1. Basal Ganglia

Also known as the Corpus Striatum, it includes the Globus Pallidus, Putamen, and Caudate Nucleus. It regulates complex motor function such as posture, locomotion, balance, and arm swinging. It also inhibits function, coordinates motor behavior, and uses dopamine.

2. Basal Ganglia Symptoms

Dyskinesias such as the following:

• Bradykinesia (slowed movement)
• Rigidity 
• Tics
• Tremor
• Gait issues
• Dystonia
• Chorea
• Atheotosis 

3. Problems of the Basal Ganglia

A) Parkinson's disease (PD)

A progressive neurological disease, also known as the "shaking palsy." It is caused by degeneration of midbrain's substaintia nigra and loss of dopamine to the BG. Symptoms include muscle rigidity, dyskinesias, resting and pill rolling tremors, shuffling gait, weak voice, dysarthria, flat affect, poor posture, and dysphagia. 

Treatments of PD can be medical or surgical. Some medical treatments include Levodopa/Carbidopa, Dopamine Agonists, Anticholinergics, MAO-B Inhibitors, and COMT Inhibitors. Surgeries include Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), which is a surgical insertion of a brain pacemaker that stimulates the basal ganglia, reducing Parkinsonian symptoms, and Pallidotomy, in which the cells in the globus pallidus are selectively destroyed using a heated probe, reducing Parkinsonian symptoms.

B) Huntington's Disease (HD)

A progressive, hereditary neurological disease due to degeneration of the basal ganglia, and the average onset is around 35 years of age. It is an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Symptoms include severe chorea, athetosis, emotional and personality changes, torticollis (twisting of the neck), dysarthria, dysphagia and dementia. 

C) Other Basal Ganglia Problems

Emotional processing problems, which can include disinhibition, impulsivity and inappropriate behaviors.