ABSTRACT
The basal ganglia are large subcortical structures comprising several interconnected nuclei in the forebrain, diencephalon, and midbrain. Historically, the basal ganglia have been viewed as a component of the motor system. However, there is now substantial evidence that the basal ganglia interact
MD: KURLAN, JOB: 03329, PAGE:
with all of the frontal cortex and with the limbic system. Thus, the basal ganglia have a role in cognitive and emotional function in addition to their role in motor control. Indeed, diseases of the basal ganglia often cause a combination of movement, affective, and cognitive disorders. The same may be said of Tourette’s syndrome (TS), in which there is often a combination of motor, affective, and cognitive dysfunction. The fundamental pathophysiology of TS is not known, but there is now general agreement that it probably involved dysfunction of basal ganglia and frontal cortical circuits (3,4).
