Subcortical Structures
and Cognition

Chapter 2

The Basal Ganglia: Beyond the Motor System - From Movement to Thought

This chapter reviews the functional neuroanatomy of the basal ganglia. The principles of movement are described as they relate to the functioning of the basal ganglia. When the basal ganglia “go wrong,” this results in disorders that affect intentional control over movement. This is dramatically seen in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease.

The principles presented in this chapter are applied to cognition, in other words, translating movement to thought. This translation is examined with particular emphasis upon the higher-order control of working memory. The chapter focuses upon the constant interplay between the cortex and the basal ganglia in order to achieve adaptive functioning.