Mesostriatal System: A Comprehensive Review
The mesostriatal system is a set of neural pathways that connect the basal ganglia, a group of structures in the brain involved in motor and cognitive functioning, to the thalamus and the cortex. This system is critical for the coordination of movement, decision making, and reward processing. The primary components of the mesostriatal system include the striatum, the pallidum, the subthalamic nucleus, and the substantia nigra. This review will provide an overview of the anatomy, circuitry, and function of the mesostriatal system.
Anatomy
The mesostriatal system is composed of several neural pathways that originate in the basal ganglia. The main structures of the basal ganglia include the striatum, pallidum, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra. The striatum, also known as the neostriatum, is composed of the caudate nucleus and the putamen. The caudate nucleus is important for motor control and reward processing, while the putamen is important for motor control and decision making. The pallidum is a major output nucleus of the basal ganglia and is composed of the globus pallidus externa (GPe) and the globus pallidus interna (GPi). The GPe is involved in the inhibition of movement, while the GPi is involved in the initiation of movement. The subthalamic nucleus is a small nucleus located between the thalamus and the substantia nigra. The subthalamic nucleus is involved in the regulation of movement and motivation. The substantia nigra is composed of two regions: the pars compacta and the pars reticulata. The pars compacta is responsible for the production of dopamine, while the pars reticulata is responsible for the inhibition of movement.
Circuitry
The mesostriatal system is composed of three main pathways: the direct, indirect, and hyperdirect pathways. The direct pathway originates in the striatum and projects to the GPi and the substantia nigra. This pathway is involved in the inhibition of movement. The indirect pathway originates in the striatum and projects to the GPe and the subthalamic nucleus. This pathway is involved in the initiation of movement. The hyperdirect pathway originates in the cortex and projects to the subthalamic nucleus. This pathway is involved in the regulation of movement and motivation.
Function
The mesostriatal system is responsible for the coordination of movement, decision making, and reward processing. The direct pathway is involved in the inhibition of movement, while the indirect and hyperdirect pathways are involved in the initiation of movement and the regulation of motivation and reward processing. The mesostriatal system is also involved in the modulation of cognitive functions such as attention, working memory, and executive functioning.
Conclusion
The mesostriatal system is a set of neural pathways that connect the basal ganglia to the thalamus and the cortex. This system is critical for the coordination of movement, decision making, and reward processing. The components of the mesostriatal system include the striatum, pallidum, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra. The mesostriatal system is composed of three main pathways: the direct, indirect, and hyperdirect pathways. The mesostriatal system is responsible for the coordination of movement, decision making, and reward processing, as well as the modulation of cognitive functions such as attention, working memory, and executive functioning.
References
Albin, R. L., Young, A. B., & Penney, J. B. (1989). The functional anatomy of the basal ganglia. Trends in Neurosciences, 12(10), 366-375.
Baker, K. B., & Balleine, B. W. (2005). The role of the medial and lateral striatum in instrumental conditioning. Behavioural Brain Research, 163(2), 229-244.
Gurney, K. N., Prescott, T. J., & Redgrave, P. (2001). A computational model of action selection in the basal ganglia. I. A new functional anatomy. Biological Cybernetics, 84(5), 401-410.
Hersch, S. M., & Cai, C. (2014). The role of the mesostriatal system in reward and decision making. Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews, 39(10), 1848-1863.
McDonald, A. J., & Moga, M. M. (2011). The basal ganglia and motor control. Movement Disorders, 26(3), 347-357.