The hidden control room of the brain: Let's simply learn about the Basal Ganglia!

Our brain is a very amazing place, isn't it? It's like a supercomputer. Each part of this brain does a different job. Today we're going to talk about a group of parts that are located a little deeper inside the brain, but they play a very important role. These are what we call the Basal Ganglia . Maybe you haven't heard this name before. But that's okay, let's talk about it simply today.

What is the Basal Ganglia?

Simply put, the basal ganglia are a group of specialized structures located near the center of your brain that work together. Think of them as a small group inside your brain. The main job of this group is to help transfer information between different parts of your brain. They act like a bridge, connecting different areas. One of the most important jobs they do is to manage the signals your brain sends to move your muscles . When you move your arm, walk, or talk, the basal ganglia help the signals flow properly.

What actually happens in the Basal Ganglia?

The basal ganglia are much more involved than you might think. We know most about them mainly for controlling movement, but they are involved in many other things as well. Doctors and scientists are still figuring out all their functions.

1. Controlling our body movements

This is the main and best known function of the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia are a major part of the network of nerve cells in the brain that controls all the movements you make consciously, that is, voluntary movements. Imagine, when you think about doing something, your brain sends a signal related to it. As this signal passes through the basal ganglia, they check whether this signal is "right" or "wrong" . It's like a gate.

• The necessary signals are: Let it go. Then that signal goes to the relevant muscle and you can make that movement.
• Unnecessary or incorrect signals: They are blocked or reversed. This is why when you move one muscle, other nearby muscles that are not connected to it are left motionless.

The basal ganglia also receive information from your five senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin). They use this information to help you make your movements more precise and precise.

2. Decision-making, learning and habits

In addition to movement, the basal ganglia are involved in many other important things.

• Decision-making: These help you process things like this when you set a goal and consider the risks involved.
• Emotions and motivation:These are also related to your emotions and your motivation to do something.
• Learning and habits: When you learn something new, good or bad habits are formed with the activity of the Basal Ganglia. These are important when you are making a plan and when you are implementing it.

3. Feeling happy and addictions

Because the basal ganglia is associated with things like emotions, motivations, and habits, they also help control how you feel rewarded when you do something and how you feel compelled to avoid something.

People become addicted to things like smoking and drugs because the basal ganglia is linked to the brain's reward system. That means they also have an impact on conditions like addiction.

Where exactly are these in the brain? What are they made of?

The basal ganglia is not a single structure in the brain. It is a collection of several structures located in the center of the brain, a little deeper. Among these, the main ones are the `Caudate nucleus`, `Globus pallidus`, and `Putamen`. Apart from that, other important parts such as the `Subthalamic nucleus` and `Substantia nigra` also belong to this system. Think of it like a `(circuit board)` in an electronic device. The different parts of the basal ganglia are connected to each other and work by making connections with other parts of the brain. Some connections give signals to start an action (excitatory) , while other connections give signals to stop an action (inhibitory) . These signals are exchanged through special chemicals called neurotransmitters . How big is it? All these basal ganglia together take up about 10 cubic centimeters of space. That's about the size of a regular toy ball . Even though they're small, they do a lot of work, right? What are they made of? Although the name "basal ganglia" says "ganglia," they don't just contain ganglia, they also contain nuclei. Simply put:

• Nuclei: are clusters of nerve cells that perform the same function or connect to the same locations in the nervous system.
• Ganglia: Groups of nerve cells that are connected to each other and work in the same way.

These nuclei and ganglia are made up of two main types of cells: 1. Neurons: These are nerve cells. These neurons carry information and exchange signals in the brain and nervous system. They can use electrical and chemical signals. The main parts of a neuron are the cell body, the long stalk-like axon that carries signals, and the branch-like dendrites that receive signals from other neurons. Some axons are surrounded by a protective sheath called myelin, which speeds up the signals. 2. Glial cells: These are cells that help neurons and act as a support for them. Although they do not carry signals like neurons, these glial cells are very important for the growth, maintenance, and protection of neurons. It is said that there are about ten times more glial cells than neurons in our nervous system.

What diseases affect the basal ganglia?

Unfortunately, there are several medical conditions that can affect this important part. Some of them are:

• Addictions
• Alzheimer's disease
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Brain tumors (cancerous and non-cancerous)
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Head injuries, especially traumatic brain injuries
• Ingestion of heavy metals (e.g. mercury , lead) or other toxic substances (Heavy metal poisoning)
• Infections (especially infections affecting the brain, such as encephalitis)
• Huntington's disease
• Lewy body dementia
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's disease
• Stroke
• Tourette syndrome
• Wilson's disease

This list may seem scary, but not everyone gets all of these diseases. It's important to be aware.

How do you know if there is a problem with these? (Symptoms)

Symptoms can vary depending on the condition affecting the basal ganglia. For example, the symptoms seen in Parkinson's disease are different from the symptoms seen in carbon monoxide poisoning. However, some common symptoms include:

• Balance and coordination problems: Staggering when walking, inability to control limbs properly.
• Muscle weakness, stiffness, or spasms.
• Tremors.
• Vision problems.
• Slurred speech.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, it is very important to seek medical advice immediately .

How to check the health of the basal ganglia?

If a doctor suspects a problem with the basal ganglia, they may perform various tests to confirm it. Some of them include:

• Blood tests: These can detect things like immune system problems and toxins (especially metals like copper, mercury, and lead).
• CT scan `(Computerized tomography - CT scan)`
• EEG test (electroencephalogram - EEG)
• EMG test (Electromyogram - EMG)
• Genetic testing
• MRI scan `(Magnetic resonance imaging - MRI)`
• Positron emission tomography (PET scan)

What are the treatments for these conditions?

Treatments for diseases that affect the basal ganglia vary depending on the disease. There is no single treatment for every disease. Some diseases can be treated with medication. Others may require surgery or other specialized treatments. Sometimes, although the disease cannot be completely cured, treatment can be used to control the symptoms and make life easier.

How to keep the basal ganglia healthy? (Prevention)

While we can't prevent all diseases that affect the basal ganglia, there are things we can do to prevent many of them. In fact, what's important here is to keep the brain and body healthy as a whole.

• Eat a balanced diet: Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can affect the brain and nervous system. Also, your diet can affect the health of your circulatory system. Conditions like stroke are caused by problems with the heart and circulatory system.
• Stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight: Your weight and activity level can help prevent or delay diseases that affect the brain, especially circulatory problems like high blood pressure.
• Wear protective equipment when necessary: ​​Head injuries, especially concussions and traumatic brain injuries, can damage the basal ganglia and other parts of the brain. These injuries can sometimes be serious and permanent. Therefore, it is essential to wear protective equipment such as helmets at work, while playing, and while riding a bike.
• Manage your chronic conditions: Long-term conditions like diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure can affect the brain. Proper treatment of these conditions can help stop or delay their worsening.

Finally, what to remember! (Take-Home Message)

The basal ganglia are a very important and powerful part of our brain. The way they work affects many aspects of our daily lives – from how we move, to how we make decisions, to how we feel. Scientists are still learning more about these tiny, yet complex structures. With advances in medicine and technology, our understanding of them is only getting better. As this understanding increases, doctors will be able to find new ways to diagnose and treat diseases that affect the basal ganglia.

So, don't forget that taking care of your overall brain health will also help maintain the health of these basal ganglia! Living a healthy lifestyle is the best thing to do.