title: The primate thalamostriatal systems: Anatomical organization, functional roles and possible involvement in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The striatum receives glutamatergic inputs from two main thalamostriatal systems that originate either from the centre median/parafascicular complex (CM/PF-striatal system) or the rostral intralaminar, midline, associative and relay thalamic nuclei (non-CM/PF-striatal system). These dual thalamostriatal systems display striking differences in their anatomical and, most likely, functional organization. The CM/PF-striatal system is topographically organized, and integrated within functionally segregated basal ganglia-thalamostriatal circuits that process sensorimotor, associative and limbic information. CM/PF neurons are highly responsive to attention-related sensory stimuli, suggesting that the CM/PF-striatal system, through its strong connections with cholinergic interneurons, may play a role in basal ganglia-mediated learning, behavioral switching and reinforcement. In light of evidence for prominent CM/PF neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease, we propose that the significant CM-striatal system degeneration, combined with the severe nigrostriatal dopamine loss in sensorimotor striatal regions, may alter normal automatic actions, and shift the processing of basal ganglia-thalamocortical motor programs towards goal-directed behaviors.
authors: Yerkes National Primate Research Center, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Emory University Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Atlanta GA 30322 USA.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Galvan
authors: Yoland
authors: Y
authors: Smith