Cholinergic neurons comprise a small population of cells in the striatum but have
fundamental roles in fine tuning brain function, and in the etiology of neurological and …

Understanding how neurons of the striatum are formed and integrate into complex synaptic
circuits is essential to provide insight into striatal function in health and disease. In this …

Striatal acetylcholine and dopamine critically regulate movement, motivation, and reward-
related learning. Pauses in cholinergic interneuron (CIN) firing are thought to coincide with …

The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) is a key midbrain center with roles in
locomotion. Despite extensive studies and clinical trials aimed at therapy-resistant …

To understand striatal function, it is essential to know the functional organization of the
numerous inputs targeting the diverse population of striatal neurons. Using optogenetics, we …

The basal ganglia play an important role in decision making and selection of action primarily
based on input from cortex, thalamus, and the dopamine system. Their main input structure …

The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) serves as an interface between higher-order
motor systems and lower motor neurons. The excitatory module of the MLR is composed of …

The critical role of acetylcholine (ACh) in the basal ganglia is evident from the effect of
cholinergic agents in patients suffering from several related neurological disorders, such as …

The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) controls locomotion in vertebrates. In humans
with Parkinson disease, locomotor deficits are increasingly associated with decreased …

The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is the major part of the mesencephalic locomotor
region, involved in the control of gait and locomotion. The PPN contains glutamatergic …