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Rethinking the external globus pallidus and information flow in cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic circuits
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  • Cristina Giossi,
  • Jonathan Rubin,
  • Aryn Gittis,
  • Timothy Verstynen,
  • Catalina Vich
Cristina Giossi
Universitat de les Illes Balears
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Jonathan Rubin
University of Pittsburgh
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Aryn Gittis
Carnegie Mellon University
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Timothy Verstynen
Carnegie Mellon University
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Catalina Vich
Universitat de les Illes Balears

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

For decades the external globus pallidus (GPe) has been viewed as a passive way-station in the indirect pathway of the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic (CBGT) circuit, sandwiched between striatal inputs and basal ganglia outputs. According to this model, one-way descending striatal signals in the indirect pathway amplify the suppression of downstream thalamic nuclei by inhibiting GPe activity. Here we revisit this assumption, in light of new and emerging work on the cellular complexity, connectivity, and functional role of the GPe in behavior. We show how, according to this new circuit-level logic, the GPe is ideally positioned for relaying ascending and descending control signals within the basal ganglia. Focusing on the problem of inhibitory control, we illustrate how this bidirectional flow of information allows for the integration of reactive and proactive control mechanisms during action selection. Taken together, this new evidence points to the GPe as being a central hub in the CBGT circuit, participating in bidirectional information flow and linking multifaceted control signals to regulate behavior.
25 Feb 20241st Revision Received
28 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
28 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
28 Feb 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned