Motor Control Circuits

Basil Ganglia:

• Includes caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and subthalamic nuclei
• Regulates motor functioning, especially tone and posture so that we have smooth, precise motor movements
• Dyskinesias result when this system is damaged

Cerebellum:

• Coordinates muscle movements so that they are skilled and sequential
• When this circuit is damage, speech can become uncoordinated, resulting in a condition known as ataxic dysarthria