The Thalamostriatal System and Cognition

Abstract

A contribution of the basal ganglia in cognition is well established. The connections between the caudate nucleus, the prefrontal cortex, and other associative cortices are key elements of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical loops that regulate cognitive behaviors. Neurodegenerative disorders that affect the caudate nucleus and associative territories of other basal ganglia nuclei often lead to cognitive deficits. In this chapter, we will discuss evidence that functional connections between the caudal intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus and the striatum also contribute to cognitive processes related to learning and attention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)