The secret control room of the brain that controls your movements, decisions, and emotions (Basal Ganglia)

Imagine that you are reaching out to get a cup of tea. At that moment, only your hand goes straight to it, and the rest of your body does not move, right? Or the small decisions you make throughout the day, the happiness you feel, your habits... All of this is very important in the brain behind it, but today we are talking about a part of it that we do not talk about much. This is what is called the Basal Ganglia in medical science. Although the name is a little strange, its function is very amazing.

What is the Basal Ganglia?

Simply put, the basal ganglia are a collection of nerve cells in the deepest, central part of your brain. It's not just one part, but a collection of many parts. These parts are connected to each other and help communicate messages between different parts of the brain. It's like a complex circuit board in an electronic device. This circuit board is what allows the different parts of the brain to come together and work together toward a common goal.

Its main function is to manage the signals sent from the brain to move your muscles. But it does much more than that.

What is really going on with this?

Research is still ongoing into the function of the basal ganglia. New things are being discovered almost every day. But for now, we know of a few key functions.

Controlling movements

This is the most well-known function of the basal ganglia. Let's say you want to pick up a book. At that moment, your brain sends a signal to the muscles in your hand saying, "Okay, pick up the book now." This signal goes through the basal ganglia before going directly to the muscles.

This filtering process is very important. Because it is what allows us to make only the movements we want, smoothly, without unnecessary jerks. Otherwise, when you stretch your arm, your neck would twist, your leg would stretch, and you would have strange movements. So, what happens here is that we stop the unnecessary movements and allow only the necessary movements to be made smoothly .

The basal ganglia also receives information from our five senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin). It can also use this information to fine-tune our movements.

Decision-making and emotions

In addition to movement, the basal ganglia also helps control your decision-making, risk assessment, emotions, and motivation. This means that when you learn something new, form habits, and plan and execute a task, the basal ganglia is involved in all of these things.

Happiness, addictions and habits

When you do something, you feel a sense of reward, right? The basal ganglia is also involved in the chemical processes in the brain that produce that pleasure. Also, because it controls habits and motivation to do something, the activity of this part also affects conditions such as addiction to drugs and other things . When something gives you pleasure, our brains are motivated to do it again and again. The basal ganglia is a key center that controls this process.

Where are these located in the brain? What are these parts?

The basal ganglia are located deep in the brain, near the center of the brain. We've said that this is not a single structure. It has several main parts. Let's take a quick look at those parts in the table below.

These parts are interconnected, some signals are excitatory and some are inhibitory. This complex process is what makes our body so well controlled.

What are these made of?

The basal ganglia are made up of two main types of cells in the nervous system.

1. Neurons: These are the "messengers" of our nervous system. These cells carry signals around the brain and body. There are several main parts to a neuron.

• Cell body: The main part of the cell.
• Axon: A long, arm-like part that extends from the cell body. It is along this that signals are carried.
• Dendrites: Small, branching structures that receive signals from other neurons.
• Myelin: A fatty sheath around some axons that helps signals travel faster.

2. Glial cells: These are like "helper cells" for neurons. Although they don't directly transmit signals, they help nourish, protect, and maintain neurons' proper function. There are about ten times more glial cells than neurons in our nervous system.

What diseases affect the basal ganglia?

Because they perform such important functions, damage to the basal ganglia can lead to a variety of conditions. Some of these you may have heard of.

Common symptoms that can occur due to a basal ganglia problem

The symptoms of damage to this area can vary greatly depending on the underlying disease, but there are some common symptoms:

• Loss of balance and coordination problems.
• Muscle weakness or sudden tightening (spasms).
• Tremors , especially when at rest.
• Visual impairment.
• The story becomes confusing or unclear.

How do you check their health status?

Your doctor may order various tests depending on your symptoms.

• Blood tests: These can detect things like toxins in the body, heavy metals (like copper and mercury), and immune system problems.
• CT scan and MRI scan: These can take clear images of the brain and look for any changes in its structure, damage from a tumor, or stroke.
• EEG (Electroencephalogram): A test that measures the electrical activity of the brain.
• Genetic testing: To identify hereditary conditions such as Huntington's disease.

What are the treatments for these related diseases?

Treatment options depend entirely on your specific condition. There is no "one size fits all" treatment. A drug for one condition can worsen another condition.

Some conditions are treated with medication. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary. Some conditions cannot be cured. In such cases, doctors will try to control your symptoms and help you maintain your quality of life as best as possible. Therefore, only your doctor can determine the best treatment for your condition.

What can we do to keep the basal ganglia healthy?

While we can't prevent all diseases that affect the basal ganglia, there are many things we can do to reduce our risk. In fact, the same things we do to keep the brain and body healthy as a whole are important.

• Eat a balanced diet:Vitamin and mineral deficiencies or excesses can affect the nervous system. Also, a healthy diet can help keep the circulatory system healthy. This is very important to protect against conditions like stroke.
• Stay active and maintain a healthy weight: Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight can help protect against diseases that can damage the brain, such as high blood pressure.
• Wear protective gear: This is very important! Head injuries, especially concussions, can cause permanent damage to the basal ganglia. Therefore, it is essential to wear protective headgear, such as a helmet, when riding bicycles, motorcycles, playing certain sports, and in hazardous occupations.
• Manage your chronic conditions: If you have a long-term condition like diabetes or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's instructions and take your medications as prescribed. Doing so can help prevent or control the damage these conditions can cause to your brain.

The basal ganglia are an amazing, incredibly important part of our brain. Scientists are still learning about it. But what we do know is that this tiny part affects almost every aspect of our lives. So it's our responsibility to take care of it and keep it healthy.