ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the topography and the connections of the basal forebrain areas that appear especially relevant in the context of motor aspects of drive and motivation. It shows the main aspects of the structures that may be accessible to experimental manipulation by physiological, pharmacological and behavioral means. The initial observations on the existence of the ventral striatopallidal system subserving allocortical and periallocortical areas simplified the analysis of the basal forebrain. The chapter focuses on the descending basal forebrain pathways that are likely to play a direct role in mechanisms whereby motivation is translated into action. It also focuses on pathways which are included in the downstream projection from the ventral parts of the basal ganglia and which may engage regions involved in somatomotor functions. The olfactory tubercle part of the ventral striatopallidal system deserves special consideration. The striatal projections from the rostral tubercle terminate primarily in ventral pallidal territories in the deeper portion of the olfactory tubercle.
