2-Minute Neuroscience: Basal Ganglia

In this video I discuss the group of structures known as the basal ganglia, which includes the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and subthalamic nucleus. I describe the role of the basal ganglia in facilitating movement, and I briefly discuss the direct and indirect pathways, two circuits in within the basal ganglia that are thought to promote and inhibit movement, respectively.
For an article (on my website) that explains the basal ganglia more in-depth, click this link: neuroscientificallychallenged...
TRANSCRIPT:
Welcome to 2 minute neuroscience, where I simplistically explain neuroscience topics in 2 minutes or less. In this installment I will discuss the basal ganglia.
The basal ganglia are a group of structures found deep within the cerebral hemispheres and the brainstem that include the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and subthalamic nucleus. The caudate and putamen are often referred to collectively as the striatum, and the globus pallidus and substantia nigra are each made up of multiple nuclei. Although there are a variety of nonmotor functions associated with the basal ganglia, they are best known for their role in facilitating movement.
Much of the information the basal ganglia receives comes from the cerebral cortex and travels first to the caudate or putamen, the main input nuclei of the basal ganglia. The globus pallidus and substantia nigra are the main output nuclei, and they send projections out from the basal ganglia to the cerebral cortex, mostly by way of the thalamus, as well as to nuclei in the brainstem.
Activity in the nuclei of the basal ganglia doesn’t cause movement independently, but instead the basal ganglia influence activity in other areas of the brain like the motor cortex to affect movement. The ways in which the basal ganglia do this are not fully understood, but one hypothesis is that there are different circuits in the basal ganglia that promote and inhibit movement, respectively. According to this model, the main output of the basal ganglia is inhibitory and the neurons in the globus pallidus are constantly inhibiting the thalamus to prevent unwanted movements.
When a signal to initiate movement is sent from the cortex to the basal ganglia it follows a circuit in the basal ganglia known as the direct pathway, which leads to the silencing of neurons in the globus pallidus. This frees the thalamus from the inhibitory effects of the globus pallidus and allows movement to occur. There is also a circuit within the basal ganglia called the indirect pathway, which involves the subthalamic nucleus and leads to increased suppression of unwanted movements. It is thought that a balance between activity in these two pathways may allow for smooth movement.
Reference:
Mink JW. The basal ganglia: focused selection and inhibition of competing motor programs. Prog Neurobiol. 1996 Nov;50(4):381-425.
Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, Hall WC, Lamantia AS, McNamara JO, White LE. Neuroscience. 4th ed. Sunderland, MA. Sinauer Associates; 2008.

[@ashenton1892]

These 2 min videos make more sense than reading entire textbooks!

[@daniellebethel9989]

This was perfect. I read this section in the book about 10 times and was lost. This was exactly what I needed for the “light bulb” moment. Thank you!!!!

[@abaskarim41]

Thanks man you saved me For all those people saying "you are too quick to follow" you can pause the video to absorb what he's saying or note it down if you want

[@aaluz]

I think you taught it at the perfect speed. If you can't follow along, he posts the transcripts in the description. It's called 2-Minute Neuroscience for a reason.

[@HASSAN-ey2qf]

Alyssa or u can red the playback speed

[@csupor1046]

Hhű Brusque

[@jacksonwestaway5576]

SO happy with these videos! They are the best revision for when too tired to read. PLease dont slow them down!!

[@ToddEdmondson]

I learned about the basal ganglia from the book The Power of habit, it talked about an old man who couldn't remember anyone in his family and went missing one day. They found him a few blocks away at his favorite coffee shop that he used to always go to and that habit survived. The brain is fascinating!

[@thalukanyomulaudzi1101]

I'm actually reading the book hence I'm here. Hahaha

[@hanch96]

reviewing for step and these videos are just perfect, very grateful to you for putting them together !!

[@robbiedart7422]

Great video to refresh the memory of someone who's already been taught this, thanks! But maybe a longer version to newly teach someone would be good too, I would've struggled if this was my first introduction.

[@JaCollado33]

Very, very good review videos. Perfect speed, very clean drawings and figures. Thank you very much.

[@amnawajahat6418]

just the perfect length!!! thank you!

[@MitchellBourisk]

Wow, beats my teacher's 1 hour lecture. Thanks!

[@ReauSW]

Despite of what other people say, I think it was good quick look at what I should know. Thanks :)

[@laurenmillership3419]

thank you for saving me and my degree !

[@cubajunior5832]

The best tutor i will ever have

[@ashaahsiddiqui5634]

Very informative and easy to understand!

[@cheryldurham297]

Love your videos! I am studying animal behaviour and part of that is neuroscience. Your content is succinct and visual which really "joins the dots"! Also bought your book Bizarre on Audible. So fascinating. Thank you!

[@flirtichick]

This is so so useful! Thank you :)

[@lwasafaizo489]

Just 2 minutes are better than a text book

[@johnatere]

Why don't you have more subscribers!!!!! Excellent explanation!!!!

[@essaksaleeb7728]

great, I've learnt a lot. Thanks man

[@nush727]

I used to watch your videos during undergrad and now I'm back watching them in med school as a refresher. Thanks for all your help!

[@muneebaec2841]

Your lectures are very usefull to answer short note questions. and also the short duration prompt the mind to click on your video😅

[@muneebaec2841]

@BigDon 😅

[@aimson]

Good video, very awesome! Thanks.

[@TarikJamoulle]

awesome work, keep it up!

[@adamsiegel6873]

Your videos are awsome. I love watching them and learning the concepts of the the brain.

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

Thanks!

[@72tubedmiaz]

Best brief on the subject

[@MiddleEasternGamin]

Awesome video!

[@ElenaMuratovaCoach]

Thanks for the video!

[@amandagreen1030]

Thanks for this video. I'm dealing with tardive dyskinesia and trying to understand this unexplainable, debilitating condition.

[@Ani.DR.07]

excellent sir

[@MikeB-sp6gp]

Perfect. Of course this isn't a detailed explanation. But I now know what the basal ganglia is and, generally, what it does. I'm left with fundamentals that I will be able to remember-- something that isn't always the case by a long shot. If I want to learn more, there are plenty of sources I can turn to that I will better understand with this foundation of knowledge.

[@summeral-khorashi9768]

This is great. Really love your videos. Its getting me through my central nervous systems chapter in A&P. Just a quick question, i was told that the Basal Nuclei once were (and often still are) referred to as "Basal Ganglia" (which you mention) is actually a misnomer; as "ganglia" are collections of cell bodies in the PNS. Just was wondering if that is correct or if i was given misinformation? Cheers and keep up the great work!

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

Yes, that's correct. When the term "ganglia" was initially applied to the basal nuclei, there wasn't the same distinction between ganglia (PNS) and nuclei (CNS) that we have today. But according to today's conventions, "basal ganglia" is a misnomer. Here's a detailed history of the terminology: file.scirp.org/pdf/NM_2012123116010168.pdf

[@walikhankhan1777]

Commendable Sir

[@aprotutor]

Nice video! Would you name 2 common sources of input to putamen and caudate nucleus? Which artery provides blood supply to the region internal capsule? Thanks!

[@lisagonzalez2902]

Lol. You can now decrease speed at 0.75x, so it's not AS SLOW as 0.5x. But, it still sounds drunkish. Great job with the video!!

[@paulinamaximova]

If it is too quick, you can change the speed in the panel below)

[@suprithdsouza6652]

Thanks

[@beshrelaasar5]

Thanks very nice channel

[@topalaluiza9647]

Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏

[@thelittlejennie]

I love the transcript that's included. so helpful. When reading and trying to look up more information.

[@elisabethnyenhuis8063]

Interesting video. Was looking for an explanation for Benign Essential Blepharospasms happening to me. This was a bit eye opening and shocking. Thought it was something you could disconnect and this stop this horrible disorder. Guess I’m here to learn more now on how we can figure Dystonia out.

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

There are surgical treatments for BEB, and certain drugs that can help some patients. Botulinum injection also often helps, but that can become costly. I hope you find a way to get some relief.

[@TraaaaaasshBooooaaaatttt]

bruh i been tryin to read this for an exam and the books made no sense. this functionally explains it perfectly

[@fatemaalya]

amazing thank u

[@oyamlipir991]

Thank u so much 🙏🏼

[@shahzadzafar2125]

Plzz ... discuss about disorder of basal ganglia (parkins)..!!

[@ansaaslam3553]

By the way awesome videos

[@TunaBagels]

Fun fact for the people who don't like the pace: Press K on your keyboard to stop the video. Pressing J will rewind the video 10 seconds. You're welcome ;)

[@edenkhan1293]

You can also change the playback speed! :)

[@dannichols6261]

Thank you TunaSammich!! J is *wonderful* , not just for here!

[@user-wt7vx4zg3n]

THANK YOU

[@ramalingeswararaobhavaraju5813]

Thank sir.

[@jannatinkarlen8702]

great video, what software did you use?

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

Thanks! It's a program called VideoScribe.

[@fugaspapa2818]

What’s the difference between the Basal Ganglia and the Amygdala? Not being a neuroscientist, they seem to occupy the same place and have two different functions. Any video on that?

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

I do have a video on the amygdala (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIfZfoatqLSLhtk). You can compare this video and that one to see that they actually are located in different places (and have different functions).

[@purpleclouds7332]

Super Cool.

[@RishavKumar-rs1ni]

Love your videos..... ♥️.. totally awesome

[@BriclynForest]

Ive literally watched this 10 times and cant summarize it to save my life....

[@PhysiologyOpen]

Briclyn Forest : why don’t you watch a detailed version: Basal ganglia physiology | Connections and functions | Direct & Indirect Pathways |Movement disorder kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYK8imtqf7mUoZY

[@spicerack4397]

My 65 y.o. husband was just diagnosed with this. It is devastating. His right hand is unable to do anything. He needs me to dress him, zip up his pants, button his shirt. He loved to cook. He can't even make himself a sandwich. I have to kill bugs by myself, the biggest horror. :) He can't make love anymore, even with Viagra or the other drug. He says about once a week, he wishes he was dead. He can't drive anymore either. Discerning red lights and green lights is problematic. Watching my husband disappear before my eyes, is more than words can describe.

[@rafaelarguello2171]

Perfect

[@mutatedcells8770]

Which lobe is it in

[@DrHrishikeshApte]

great

[@michaelyoon9355]

Do I have a basal ganglia injury.......?

[@calla130]

Confused: One of your videos says the substantia nigra is in the brainstem; this one says it's in the basal ganglia, which is part of the cerebrum. Please clarify? (PS - these are excellent videos and very helpful.)

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

I think your confusion is with your definition of the basal ganglia. It includes several structures that are considered part of the cerebrum (caudate, putamen, globus pallidus), but it is network of brain regions and also includes the substantia nigra (midbrain/brainstem) and the subthalamic nucleus (diencephalon). So the basal ganglia isn't found only in the cerebrum. Here's an article from my website on the basal ganglia: www.neuroscientificallychallenged.com/blog/what-are-basal-ganglia

[@calla130]

Neuroscientifically Challenged Thanks so much!

[@deemaaladhadh6306]

so is the basal ganglia a part of the cerebral cortex or the brain stem?

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

They are considered "subcortical" structures, which means they lie below the cortex. But they are not part of the brainstem--except for the substantia nigra, which is in the midbrain.

[@solomonantwi854]

Just cool

[@andreyka26_se]

I've read tons of articles about how moving our bodies is going on. BUT I've found some part of topic just IGNORED. ALL authors just pass the part "our brain generates the signal". I have been trying to find the answer for 1 week and found nothing. Is it an unanswered question in neuroscience? Or they just skip because they don't know, or it is so trivial question and only I cannot understand it? Because in order to depolarize the neuron it should open ion channels by our wish. E.g. I wanna move my leg up, just because I can. My brain opens ion channels just because I want it. My will should be like physical power isn't it?

[@jilljones9804]

Yes, will power and determination. The brain is he command center but we give it the commands

[@user-mi9bb6dh7f]

The reason of sending pro and inhibit signals is to smooth movement

[@user-vo1yy2vg6k]

is it normal speed or is it a fast speed of 2 minutes?!

[@walikhankhan1777]

To All the demotivators (-ve feebackers)...just listen, this is fast no doubt because it is 2 minute neuroscience...which is quite good to sum up the topic Just within 2 minutes.

[@catherinerosa-baker2937]

In Tourette's can body tics change in different parts if the body or do eye twitch always eye twitch A person has an eye twitch and then maybe a couple years later they'll have a twitch somewhere else on the body is that possible or somebody lying to me

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

Yes, tics in Tourette's can come and go, become more or less severe, and occur in various locations on the body over time.

[@crystalss8354]

Thanks 💕💕

[@h.p.734]

Play his videos at 2x speed for the true "1-minute neuroscience" experience

[@ansaaslam3553]

What striatum means

[@franknstein5376]

Don't know why they see it is not understandable: besides being able to rewind/rewatch it (it's 2 minutes, they are not going to stay here 1h), it is meant to be a quick recap and not a comprehensive explanation

[@kaiserleung7572]

I love you

[@drwilz]

Nice effort, and nice video, but too fast to understand

[@asadullahawan5582]

This is 1 of the most difficult topics to understand in neuroanatomy & this man Dr. Najeeb just explained it so lucidly. I wish we had teachers of this caliber in all over the world. Its almost jaw dropping to watch someone having so much clarity in topics as complicated like this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnaTZp1jhJmmd8Usi=pAewK7EmLWpJtuqy

[@mirandamaldaner9290]

I don't know who you are sir but thank you

[@user-ug4en6dp9e]

Put the speed on 0,5 to be able to keep up, guys! Also it sounds like he's drunk and it's pretty hilarious

[@ashireemmanuel7087]

Be grateful

[@dawg6685]

Might wanna find a video that isn't 2 minutes little bro.

[@Muhammedzakir147]

Better do 2x save time

[@givensakamuna5855]

Simply play a 1hr video, which is as slow as you wish it to be, than passing inappropriate comments

[@shila8733]

😂

[@blh5341]

Although this could be a wonderful learning tool, I find the pace too rapid. Consider that the terminology is like a foreign language for the audience (neuroscientifically challenged) so sounds like wah wah wah wah. Yes, I know you can pause, but for me personally, that would only make it worse.

[@anellitto8186]

Same

[@talmbukalska]

I don't think this is for complete beginners. I'm using this as information I've already learned, but revising for my exam.

[@jcline87]

This is where my stroke was :(

[@user-ds9lg6fu8s]

자막 한국어 번역 추가해주실 똑똑한 선생님 도와주새오 ㅎㅎ..

[@streetInterview012]

damn fast

[@PhysiologyOpen]

Mzanzi joke Trend check out this: Basal ganglia physiology | Connections and functions | Direct & Indirect Pathways |Movement disorder kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYK8imtqf7mUoZY

[@PhysiologyOpen]

For detailed connections and functions of basal ganglia with concepts: Basal ganglia physiology | Connections and functions | Direct & Indirect Pathways |Movement disorder kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYK8imtqf7mUoZY

[@alexkmile]

I took coke and now I am watching this on double speed, no time to waste

[@tadwalafatima2811]

This is the first video where I have to decrease playback speed 🙂

[@ikramshehzad6936]

Too fast speed.. not fully understood

[@betrion7]

This video had me Google how to disable info boxes on KZbin. As if the speed wasn't challenging by itself.

[@subhanishaik9885]

Ganglion medishon

[@user-yk3zt2vz7r]

M

[@puttabuddigurkar7261]

A little slower would be great. thank you anyway.

[@Azzuri_34]

مافهمت شي

[@micahdunsmoor3133]

u liar it's not 2 min it's 1:59

[@cortexeducacao6220]

he says "two minutes or less" ;)

[@PrashanthPandian30]

Colour options could be better, with different colours for inhibitory and it could be a bit slower.,esp at 0.57s things are so messed up, perhaps 3 mins wud be better, we arent gonna change the World in that 1 min apparently. :) Still thats a great video

[@someone-yj2im]

You can change playback speed

[@aeixo2533]

My basal ganglia hurts

[@YourRealDaddy100]

I had a stroke in the basal ganglia it is horrible .

[@Fatemah-qg5bt]

I hate the BG

[@Knowledgeefficient]

Please speak English

[@bossup3385]

Nice but check know what’s what!!?? channel for more details of basal ganglia

[@mithleshgurjeetsingh3713]

Tumhare KZbin channel pagal bana rakha, kabhi kuch karne ka option aata hai kabhi kuch hato case karungi😡😡

[@Ventus2077]

We understand that you already understood the whole thing but you should have slowed it down, we barely realize a thing of what you have said

[@xnabr7603]

I didnt learn shit.

[@antonioclimax8346]

Take 3 mins to complete the video instead and speak bit slowly. You are not telling a story, but a bunch of new words, it takes a while to register such scientific words in a person's mind. KZbin slow speed option doesn't work, instead they should have a 0.75-speed option.

[@solomonantwi854]

I think you should have an idea before you watch or better still you can read after. But on the whole i think this 2mins video is just cool for a revision lets say before an exam

[@azingharibi5523]

This is an overview video. Not learning. Kinda pre-exam rapid review

[@user-sq9nn3sk7m]

You are speak very fast i can’t understand some information

[@TheScheiss]

Too fast, too faaaaast. Don't want it to be Najeeb slow, but man, deaccelerate!

[@ariellehatch3704]

Maybe set aside brain studies till you master the pause button. (jat)

[@someone-yj2im]

You know there is an option to choose playback speed?

[@TheScheiss]

@@someone-yj2im There wasn't one 4 years ago, dude.

[@someone-yj2im]

@@TheScheiss Oh really? I didn't even expect you would still be here after 4 years lol. I guess you are already done with neuroanatomy?

[@TheScheiss]

@@someone-yj2im Why wpuld you answer then? V: Yes, done, soooo done.