Dendritic spines are small, thin, specialized protrusions from neuronal dendrites, primarily
localized in the excitatory synapses. Sophisticated imaging techniques revealed that …

Dopamine (DA) acts as a key neurotransmitter in the brain. Numerous studies have shown
its regulatory role for motor and limbic functions. However, in the early stages of Parkinson's …

The authors present a unified account of 2 neural systems concerned with the development
and expression of adaptive behaviors: a mesencephalic dopamine system for reinforcement …

It is widely recognized that the neural basis of brain function can be fully understood only by
integrating many disciplines at many levels. Studies of synaptic organization are bringing …

In addition to their well-known role in skeletal movements, the basal ganglia control
saccadic eye movements (saccades) by means of their connection to the superior colliculus …

People take addictive drugs to elevate mood, but with repeated use these drugs produce
serious unwanted effects, which can include tolerance to some drug effects, sensitization to …

The classical notion that the basal ganglia and the cerebellum are dedicated to motor
control has been challenged by the accumulation of evidence revealing their involvement in …

The basal ganglia have been shown to contribute to habit and stimulus–response (S–R)
learning. These forms of learning have the property of slow acquisition and, in humans, can …

Our understanding of the organization of the basal ganglia has advanced markedly over the
last 10 years, mainly due to increased knowledge of their anatomical, neurochemical and …

The estimation of the reward an action will yield is critical in decision-making. To elucidate
the role of the basal ganglia in this process, we recorded striatal neurons of monkeys who …