Frontal-subcortical circuits: the anatomic basis of executive, social and motivated behaviors

J Psychopharmacol. 1997;11(2):107-14. doi: 10.1177/026988119701100203.

Abstract

A series of discrete, parallel frontal-subcortical circuits have been demonstrated to link specific areas of the frontal lobe to areas within the basal ganglia and thalamus. A variety of circuit-specific behaviors can be described involving the dorsolateral prefrontal, orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate circuits. Interruptions or imbalance occurring at various levels within these closed looped circuits is felt to underlie the characteristic behavioral patterns seen. The intricate neurochemical arrangement of the striatum and the complex neurotransmitter interactions that occur within these key subcortical structures from the basis for modulatory influences that can affect these circuits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Appetitive Behavior / physiology*
  • Basal Ganglia / anatomy & histology
  • Basal Ganglia / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Frontal Lobe / anatomy & histology
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Gyrus Cinguli / anatomy & histology
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Motivation*
  • Nerve Net / anatomy & histology
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Neural Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / physiology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology*
  • Social Behavior*
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Thalamic Nuclei / anatomy & histology
  • Thalamic Nuclei / physiology*

Substances

  • Neurotransmitter Agents