Motor Functions of the Basal Ganglia as Revealed by Studies of Single Cell Activity in the Behaving Primate

Advances in Neurology - 1979-06-01DeLong MR, Georgopoulos AP
The role of basal ganglia in motor behavior has been the subject of continued study and speculation since the turn of the century. Several methods have been used to investigate the motor functions of the basal ganglia, including those of electrical stimulation and of ablation. The recently developed method of extracellular microelectrode recording of neuronal activity of electrical signs of the action potentials in behaving primates has given new impetus to the research in this area. We review investigations of the motor functions of the globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra obtained by single cell recording in behaving monkey.