Sonne James, Reddy Vamsi, Beato Morris R.
McKinsey & Company
University of Central Florida
The substantia nigra (SN) is a midbrain dopaminergic nucleus, which has a critical role in modulating motor movement and reward functions as part of the basal ganglia circuitry (see Substantia Nigra). Projections from the SN to the putamen, called the nigrostriatal pathway, are critically involved in the motor deficits observed in Parkinson disease. These dopaminergic neural projections leave the SN via the medial forebrain bundle and forming synapses on multiple neuronal populations throughout the basal ganglia, but especially in the putamen. The basal ganglia are a grouping of interconnected subcortical nuclei that mitigate and control functions ranging from voluntary movement, cognitive planning, emotions and reward functions, and even cognition and learning. The substantia nigra is classically considered to be the primary input into the basal ganglia circuitry and a critical element to these functions. When these subcortical nuclei are damaged such as in stroke or during neurodegeneration, a multitude of neurological conditions can result, including Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
黑质是中脑的多巴胺能核团，作为基底神经节回路的一部分，在调节运动和奖赏功能方面起着关键作用（见黑质）。从黑质到壳核的投射，即黑质纹状体通路，与帕金森病中观察到的运动缺陷密切相关。这些多巴胺能神经投射通过内侧前脑束离开黑质，并在基底神经节的多个神经元群体上形成突触，尤其是在壳核。基底神经节是一组相互连接的皮质下核团，可减轻和控制从自主运动、认知规划、情绪和奖赏功能，甚至认知和学习等多种功能。传统上认为黑质是基底神经节回路的主要输入，也是这些功能的关键要素。当中风或神经退行性变等导致这些皮质下核团受损时，可能会引发多种神经系统疾病，包括帕金森病、亨廷顿病、妥瑞氏综合征、精神分裂症、注意力缺陷多动障碍和强迫症。
