Basal ganglia disorders

Albin R., Young A., Penney J. (1989). The functional anatomy of basal ganglia disorders. Trends Neurosci. 12, 366-75. 

Basal ganglia A group of networked structures in the brain which control voluntary movement. Two basal ganglia disorders are Huntington s disease and Parkinson s disease. 

Parkinson s disease A basal ganglia disorder characterised by neurodegeneration of... 

The basal ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei which are components of modular circuits involved in many cortical functions. They have received considerable attention from basic scientists and clinicians alike because of their prominent involvement in movement disorders, a spectrum of diseases including disorders which are characterized by poverty of movement (hypokinetic disorders), as well as disorders characterized by excess movement (hyperkinetic disorders). It has become clear in recent years that most basal ganglia disorders are not restricted to motor disturbances, but involve cognitive and emotional features as well. 

Mayeux R. Emotional changes associated with basal ganglia disorders. In Heilman KM, Satz P, eds. Neuropsychoiogy of human emotion. New York Guilford, 1983. 

Robbins TW, Owen AM, Sahakian BJ (1998b) The neuropsychology of basal ganglia disorders An integrative cognitive and comparative approach. In Ron MA, David AS (Eds), Disorders of Brain and Mind, pp. 57-84. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 

Diseases of the basal ganglia are essendally characterized by abnormal motor acdvity. Based on the type of motor problem, diseases of the basal ganglia can be classified into hypokinedc or hyperkinedc groups. Hypokinedc basal ganglia disorders include PD, in which the amplitude and velocity of voluntary movements are diminished or, in extreme cases, non-existent. 

Found at the other end of the spectrum are the hyperkinetic basal ganglia disorders, which are represented by HD and essential tremor. In these two condidons, excessive abnormal movements such as chorea or tremor are superimposed onto and interfere with normal voluntary movements. Although hyperkinedc basal ganglia disorders are probably as diverse as hypokinedc basal ganglia disorders, their specific disease markers such as gene mutadons, which exist for several of the hyperkinedc syndromes create more accurate, less problemadc, classificadons. 

Table 2. Potential therapeutic effects of cannabinoid-related compounds in basal ganglia disorders continued on next page)... 

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