Publication details
Involvement of the subthalamic nucleus in cognitive functions — A concept
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2011 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of the Neurological Sciences |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2011.07.016 |
| Field | Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences |
| Keywords | Subthalamic nucleus; Basal ganglia; Cognitive functions; Deep brain stimulation; Hyperdirect pathway |
| Description | The involvement of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in a broad spectrum of various non-motor functions – attention, executive functions, verbal learning and memory, verbal abstract reasoning, conflict resolution, and emotions – has been reported. The STN has an anatomically central position within the basal ganglia(BG)-thalamocortical motor, associative and limbic circuits. The STN might interfere with non-motor functions as an indirect modulator rather than a regulator. Mechanisms modulating the motor and non-motor functions might differ. The STN has been implicated in control of non-motor behaviors via the tuning of specific circuits depending on the task. The STN might modulate selected non-motor functions via contextual modulation of certain cortical areas. Based on intracerebral recordings, we proposed that the non-motor activities in the BG are organized in some way other than the well-known organization of the cortico-BG-thalamocortical circuits. These findings support the hypothesis of a cortico-STN bypass of the BG-thalamocortical circuitry under some circumstances. The exact role of the STN and the BG in non-motor functions remains an important and interesting challenge for future research. |