Topic: cortico-pallidal pathway

The classical model of basal ganglia (BG) network emphasizes a functional organization centered around the striatum and subthalamic nucleus as the main receiving areas of excitatory cortical inputs. However, recent anatomical studies revealed direct input projections from the cortex to the external globus pallidus (GPe) in many species including humans, suggesting that GPe also provides an entry for cortical information to the BG. When and how top-down cortical control of GPe takes place to support motor and cognitive functions remain an open question. Using an optogenetic approach, we first e