Basal Ganglia Quiz

Which of the following is NOT a part of the basal ganglia?

• Caudate nucleus

• Putamen

• Thalamus

• Globus pallidus

The striatum is composed of which two structures?

• Caudate nucleus and putamen

• Subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra

• Globus pallidus and thalamus

• Caudate nucleus and globus pallidus

Which neurotransmitter is primarily inhibitory and released by the basal ganglia?

• Acetylcholine

• Dopamine

• GABA

• Glutamate

The direct pathway of the basal ganglia facilitates:

• Inhibition of motor activity

• Initiation of voluntary movement

• Reflex inhibition

• Visual signal processing

Which basal ganglia structure is primarily excitatory and glutamatergic?

• Subthalamic nucleus

• Globus pallidus interna

• Putamen

• Caudate nucleus

Parkinson’s disease is mainly due to the degeneration of:

• Globus pallidus externa

• Substantia nigra pars compacta

• Subthalamic nucleus

• Caudate nucleus

Which of the following basal ganglia circuits is involved in cognitive functions and planning?

• Limbic loop

• Oculomotor loop

• Motor loop

• Prefrontal loop

Which disorder is characterized by wild, flinging movements due to lesion in the subthalamic nucleus?

• Parkinsonism

• Chorea

• Hemiballismus

• Dystonia

Which of the following statements about the indirect pathway of basal ganglia is TRUE?

• It directly excites motor cortex

• It facilitates voluntary movement

• It inhibits motor cortex activity

• It uses cholinergic transmission exclusively

In Huntington’s disease, degeneration occurs predominantly in the:

• Substantia nigra

• Subthalamic nucleus

• Putamen

• Caudate nucleus