Behavioral effects of selective ablation of the caudate nucleus.

TLDR

Cerebral cortex projects topographically to distinct caudate sectors, with the tail receiving inferotemporal inputs, the ventrolateral head receiving orbital frontal inputs, and the anterodorsal head receiving dorsolateral frontal inputs. In monkeys, caudate sectors perform the functions of their cortical source regions, indicating the caudate can assume cortical roles and that the striatum is the initial link in a major cortical‑to‑lower‑center pathway. The study cites 28 references.

Abstract

CEREBRAL CORTEX PROJECTS IN A TOPOGRAPHICAL MANNER TO THE CAUDATE NUCLEUS. THE TAIL OF THE CAUDATE NUCLEUS RECEIVES FIBERS FROM THE INFEROTEMPORAL CORTEX; THE VENTROLATERAL PART OF THE HEAD OF THE CAUDATE NUCLEUS RECEIVES FIBERS FROM THE ORBITAL FRONTAL CORTEX; AND THE ANTERODORSAL PART OF THE HEAD OF THE CAUDATE NUCLEUS RECEIVES FIBERS FROM THE DORSOLATERAL FRONTAL CORTEX. IN THE MONKEY THESE SECTORS OF THE CAUDATE NUCLEUS SUBSERVE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CORTEX FROM WHICH EACH RECEIVES PROJECTIONS, SUGGESTING THAT THE CAUDATE MAY BE EQUIPOTENTIAL WITH THE CEREBRAL CORTEX AND CAPABLE OF ASSUMING CORTICAL FUNCTIONS. IT ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THE STRIATUM IS THE 1ST LINK IN A MAJOR PATHWAY PROVIDING FOR CORTICAL REGULATION OF LOWER CENTERS. (28 REF.)