Affiliations: The Michael Trimble Neuropsychiatry Research Group,
Department of Neuropsychiatry, BSMHFT and University of Birmingham, Birmingham,
UK | School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston Brain
Centre, Aston University, Birmingham, UK | Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement
Disorders, Institute of Neurology and University College London, London,
UK
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Andrea Eugenio Cavanna, MD, Department of
Neuropsychiatry, The Barberry National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham B15
2FG, UK. Tel.: +44 121 3012317; Fax: +44 121 3012291; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Introduction: The basal ganglia are interconnected with cortical
areas involved in behavioural, cognitive and emotional processes, in addition
to movement regulation. Little is known about which of these functions are
associated with individual basal ganglia substructures. Methods: Pubmed was searched for literature related to behavioural,
cognitive and emotional symptoms associated with focal lesions to basal ganglia
structures in humans. Results: Six case-control studies and two case reports were
identified as relevant. Lesion sites included the caudate nucleus, putamen and
globus pallidus. These were associated with a spectrum of behavioural and
cognitive symptoms, including abulia, poor working memory and deficits in
emotional recognition. Discussion: It is often difficult to precisely map associations
between cognitive, emotional or behavioural functions and particular basal
ganglia substructures, due to the non-specific nature of the lesions. However,
evidence from lesion studies shows that most symptoms correspond with
established non-motor frontal-subcortical circuits.
