CAUDATE NUCLEUS: CHARACTERISTICS, FUNCTION AND ALTERATIONS - GEOGRAFÍA - 2024

The caudate nucleus is a structure of the brain that is part of the basal ganglia. It constitutes a mass of gray matter. This mass is found deep in the cerebral hemispheres. This brain region is especially related to movement processes.

Said activities are carried out in an indirect way, that is, it receives impulses from the cerebral cortex to later return the information to the motor cortex through the thalamic nuclei.

Caudate nucleus (yellow)

The caudate nucleus is located in the central region of the brain, in an area very close to the thalamus. Likewise, it should be noted that each human brain contains two caudate nuclei, one in the right hemisphere and the other in the left hemisphere.

Characteristics of the caudate nucleus

The caudate nucleus is one of the components that make up the basal ganglia. These ganglia are characterized by constituting a series of gray matter masses that are found at the base of the brain, between the ascending and descending white matter pathways.

This group of nuclei, together with the cerebellum, play a major role in modulating movement indirectly.

This activity is carried out through a double connection between the cerebral cortex and the caudate nucleus. First, the caudate nucleus collects information from the cerebral cortex regarding movement and then sends these nerve impulses back to the motor cortex.

Caudate nucleus (red)

Thalamic nuclei also actively participate in the process carried out by the caudate nuclei. Specifically, when the basal ganglia component returns information to the motor cortex, it first passes through the thalamus.

Although the main function of the caudate nucleus has been related to movement, this structure is an important component of the brain that controls other activities, such as learning.

Finally, it should be noted that not only human beings contain this encephalic structure in their brains, since other species of animals also present it.

Anatomy

Anatomical dissection of the brain. Location of the caudate nucleus. Source: Anatomist90 / Public domain

The caudate nuclei are located in the center of the brain, very close to the thalamic structures. Each of the cerebral hemispheres contains a caudate nucleus within it.

Specifically, these structures are located in a region very close to the midline. Morphologically they are characterized by presenting a C-shape with three portions: the head (which is in contact with the wall of the lateral ventricles), the body, and the tail.

The caudate also stands out for being connected to many diverse areas of the brain, such as the globe pallidus and the putamen. The conjunction between the putamen nucleus, the caudate nucleus and the nucleus accumbens forms a structure known as the striatum.

Both the head and the body of the caudate nucleus are formed from the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle (one of the parts of the ventricular system of the brain).

The nerve fibers of this nucleus of the basal ganglia originate in the compact substantia nigra of the central nervous system and in the ventral temgental area. Dopaminergic cells result and can also form in associated cortical regions.

Features

Classically, the functional properties of the caudate nucleus had been related solely and exclusively to the processes of movement. In fact, this structure referring to the basal ganglia plays a very important role in the development of movement. This function is performed through a close relationship with the motor cortex.

Specifically, the caudate nucleus is bidirectionally related to the cerebral cortex. At first, it collects information from this brain structure. Later, it sends this information to the thalamic nuclei so that they return it to the cerebral cortex.

However, recent research has shown that beyond motor functions, the caudate nucleus develops other types of activities. In fact, today it can be said that this brain structure is one of the most important regions of the brain.

Memory and learning

In this sense, the caudate nucleus has been related to the performance of a great variety of activities. The main ones are memorization and learning. It is postulated that this type of activity is carried out through its close relationship with the thalamic nuclei.

The thalamus is the structure of the brain that is most important in understanding languages. Thus, when it comes to developing the capacity for linguistic understanding, both the caudate nucleus and the thalamus are principal structures.

Regulates the activity of the cerebral cortex

Cross-sectional view of the caudate nucleus from a structural magnetic resonance image. Source: Lindsay Hanford, Geoff B Hall

On the other hand, recent studies have shown that the caudate nucleus performs another important function: regulating the activity of the cerebral cortex.

In this way, a good part of the cognitive functions carried out by the cerebral cortex are modulated by the previous activity carried out within the caudate nuclei.

This activity of the caudate nucleus appears to be especially important in maintaining control over the threshold potential. The human brain is capable of gathering responses from its environment through the feedback mechanism.

This mechanism developed by the caudate nucleus allows people to respond to a situation accordingly, which is why this brain structure plays a highly important role in learning processes.

Associated alterations

Caudate nuclei are brain structures that carry out a number of important activities in the brain. Thus, dysfunctions in this region of the brain can cause the appearance of alterations or psychological disorders.

One of the best known is obsessive compulsive disorder. This anxious alteration characterized by the appearance of obsessive thoughts and the execution of compulsive behaviors is, to a large extent, caused by a dysfunctional caudate nucleus.

Likewise, another condition that has been associated with this brain structure is hyperthymesia. People with this condition contain a larger than normal caudate nucleus.

As a consequence of this, subjects may develop an extraordinary ability to recall events from their past or minor details.

References

1. Bear, MF, Connors, B. i Paradiso, M. (2008) Neuroscience: exploring the brain (3rd edition) Barcelona: Wolters Kluwer.
2. Carlson, NR (2014) Physiology of behavior (11 edition) Madrid: Pearson Education.
3. Yager LM, Garcia AF, Wunsch AM, Ferguson SM (August 2015). "The ins and outs of the striatum: Role in drug addiction." Neuroscience. 301: 529-541.
4. Kumar, R; R. Ahdout; P. Macey; M. Woo; C. Avedissian; P. Thompson; R. Harper (November 10, 2009). "Reduced caudate nuclei volumes in patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome". 163 (4): 1373-1379.