The primate thalamostriatal systems: Anatomical organization, functional roles and possible involvement in Parkinson’s disease

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Adriana Galvan, Emory University; Yoland Smith, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2011-11-01
• Publisher: Elsevier: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.baga.2011.09.001
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Basal Ganglia
• ISSN: 2210-5336
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 179
• End Page: 189
• Grant/Funding Information: Supported by NIH grants R01NS062876, P50NS071669 and NIH/NCRR RR-00165 (Yerkes National Primate Research Center)
• Keywords: striatum; Centromedian; Parafascicular; cholinergic interneuron; learning; set shifting
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

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.