Putamen

Part of

indirect pathway

direct pathway

skeletomotor circuit

basal ganglia

Located in

striatum

Consists of

D1 go units

D2 no-go units

Input from

substantia nigra pars compacta

excitatory to D1 (go units)

inhibitory to D2 (no-go units)

also

primary motor cortex

premotor cortex

arcuate premotor cortex)

supplementary motor area

somatosensory areas 3a, 1, 2 and 5

Sends to

(predominantly inhibitory GABA-ergic)

internal globus pallidus

external globus pallidus

substantia nigra

Function

important for integration of movement-related information and sensory feedback

vaguely somatotopic organiation of movement-related neurons

not much spontaneous activity

contains the D1 go and D2 no-go units

Go units

D1 dopamine receptors - facilitate transmission

No-go units

D2 dopamine receptors - reduce transmission