what is the difference between basal ganglia and basal forebrain?

Answer 1

basal ganglia: caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra

basal forebrain: nucleus basalis, diagonal band, medial septum and substantia innominata

Main difference is their signaling pathways, and what those pathways are aimed toward. Basal ganglia is primarily involved in motor regulation, while the basal forebrain is less well understood, and more involved in learning, sleep, nebulous functions like that.

Answer 2

Basal Forebrain

Answer 3

Hello Sghara,

Both are parts of the brain, and have the idea of basement (basal)
in them.
--------------------------------------------------------

Basal ganglia...
A region consisting of 3 clusters of neurons [that is, groups of nerve cells] located at the base of the brain.
These clusters are called the caudate nucleus, putamen, and the globus pallidus)

They are responsible for involuntary movements such as tremors, athetosis, and chorea.

The basal ganglia are abnormal in a number of important neurologic conditions including Parkinson disease and Huntington disease.

The term "basal ganglia" refers to the fact that this region is in the "basement" of the brain.

The above definition came from:
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10030
If you go to the above web page, there will be links for the defiintions of caudate nucleus, putamen, and the globus pallidus.


Good diagrams of where basal ganglia is located in the brain:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/hopes/basics/braintut/ab6.html
http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/DopaHypoWeb04/josh%20page%202.html


--------------------------------
Basal forebrain

The basal forebrain is a term for a group of structures that lie near the bottom of the front of the brain, including the nucleus basalis, diagonal band, medial septum and substantia innominata.

These structures are important in the production of a brain chemical called acetylcholine, which is then distributed widely throughout the brain.

Acetylcholine affects the ability of brain cells to transmit information to one another, and also encourages plasticity, or learning. Thus, damage to the basal forebrain can reduce the amount of acetylcholine in the brain and impair learning. This may be one reason why basal forebrain damage can result in memory impairments such as amnesia and confabulation. One common cause of basal forebrain damage is aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery.

From http://www.memorylossonline.com/glossary/basalforebrain.html
[includes a great illustration of where the basal forebrain is located in the brain]


Hoping this helps!
If not, let me know...email me through my icon/avatar on the left, I believe.

Janice