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Indirect pathway of movement
Introduction
Indirect pathway of movement’ describes the one of the pathways modulated by the striatum, the other being a direct pathway of movement.
In the indirect pathway, striatal neurons inhibit neurons in the globus pallidus externus, which in turn inhibit neurons in the subthalamic nucleus. The direct and indirect pathways then converge at the level of the globus pallidus internus with the excitation of neurons in this region by subthalamic neurons. Opposite of the direct pathway, globus pallidus internus neurons inhibit thalamic neurons that excite the premotor cortex.
The result of all these excitations and inhibitions is an inhibition of movement by the indirect pathway. This is why damage to the pathway, as in Parkinson’s disease, causes an inability to switch to new, desired motor programs.