The thalamostriatal system: a highly specific network of the basal ganglia circuitry.
Although the existence of thalamostriatal projections has long been known, the role(s) of this system in the basal ganglia circuitry remains poorly characterized. The intralaminar and ventral motor nuclei are the main sources of thalamic inputs to the striatum. This review emphasizes the high degree of anatomical and functional specificity of basal ganglia-thalamostriatal projections and discusses various aspects of the synaptic connectivity and neurochemical features that differentiate this glutamate system from the corticostriatal network. It also discusses the importance of thalamostriatal projections from the caudal intralaminar nuclei in the process of attentional orientation. A major task of future studies is to characterize the role(s) of corticostriatal and thalamostriatal pathways in regulating basal ganglia activity in normal and pathological conditions.
Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. yolands@rmy.emory.edu
Yoland
Y
Smith
Dinesh V
DV
Raju
Jean-Francois
JF
Pare
Mamadou
M
Sidibe
D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism; D013788:Thalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter