It is a basal ganglion in the central hemisphere that helps to control movement of the body. The putamen is located next to the globus pallidus and the caudate. When combined with the globus pallidus you have the lenticular nucleus, which is part of the Motor Loop. The Motor Loop basal ganglion regulates muscle contraction, muscle force, multi-joint movements, and movement selection and action. This works by the putamen receiving information from the premotor and motor cortex, which it passes on to the globus pallidus. The globus pallidus then sends output signals to the motor areas of the cerebral cortex to initiate the movement1. The Motor Loop does not interact with the lower motor neurons, it only acts on upper motor neurons and descending tracts to facilitate small, precise movements. When the Putamen is combined with the caudate we get the area of the brain known as the corpus striatum. The corpus striatum contributes to motor control. Virtually all inputs to the basal ganglia arrive via the corpus striatum. The corpus striatum is so important in motor control because it receives dopamine from the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that can be used as an excitatory to cause movement, or inhibitory to limit excessive movement. Without dopamine both excitatory and inhibitory actions suffer; patients have a hard time initiating movement and they develop a tremor. Dopamine also adjusts signals to output nuclei so that the nuclei provide the appropriate level of inhibition1. An example of this is when pushing a button in an elevator. You know just how much force to push the button, if something is wrong with your corpus striatum you may push the button harder than necessary, or not at all depending on what is deficient. The ventral portion of the corpus striatum also helps to form the Limbic Loop. The Limbic Loop is another basal ganglion loop that has a role in emotion and motivation regulation
It is a basal ganglion in the central hemisphere that helps to control movement of the body. The putamen is located next to the globus pallidus and the caudate. When combined with the globus pallidus you have the lenticular nucleus, which is part of the Motor Loop. The Motor Loop basal ganglion regulates muscle contraction, muscle force, multi-joint movements, and movement selection and action. This works by the putamen receiving information from the premotor and motor cortex, which it passes on to the globus pallidus. The globus pallidus then sends output signals to the motor areas of the cerebral cortex to initiate the movement1. The Motor Loop does not interact with the lower motor neurons, it only acts on upper motor neurons and descending tracts to facilitate small, precise movements. When the Putamen is combined with the caudate we get the area of the brain known as the corpus striatum. The corpus striatum contributes to motor control. Virtually all inputs to the basal ganglia arrive via the corpus striatum. The corpus striatum is so important in motor control because it receives dopamine from the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that can be used as an excitatory to cause movement, or inhibitory to limit excessive movement. Without dopamine both excitatory and inhibitory actions suffer; patients have a hard time initiating movement and they develop a tremor. Dopamine also adjusts signals to output nuclei so that the nuclei provide the appropriate level of inhibition1. An example of this is when pushing a button in an elevator. You know just how much force to push the button, if something is wrong with your corpus striatum you may push the button harder than necessary, or not at all depending on what is deficient. The ventral portion of the corpus striatum also helps to form the Limbic Loop. The Limbic Loop is another basal ganglion loop that has a role in emotion and motivation regulation