title: Motor functions of the basal ganglia.
abstract: A study of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease can provide an indication of the motor functions of the basal ganglia. Basal-ganglia diseases affect voluntary movement and can cause involuntary movement. Deficits are often manifested during the coordination of fine multi-joint movements (e.g., handwriting). The disturbances of motor control (e.g. akinesia, bradykinesia) caused by basal-ganglia disorders are illustrated. Data suggest that the basal ganglia play an important role in the automatic execution of serially ordered complex movements.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iansek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000503:physiopathology; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology