- Caused by degradation of cells containing dopamine that project on basal ganglia cells 
- Symptoms include tremors during periods of stagnation, loss of facial muscle tone, rigid muscles, and decreased voluntary movement
- Disease usually not inherited, but there are some defective genes that can be inherited, including a-synuclein (protein normally found in basal ganglia cells) and parkin

Parkinson's Disease

- Caused by twitching of hands/ face, involuntary movement of entire body (including "jerking" of body), and behavioral issues (depression, decreased intellectual capabilities)
- Caused by continual degradation of basal ganglia (neural) cells, and its associated structures (including caudate nucleus and putamen)
- Disease is inherited by family members, caused by mutation on a gene on chromosome 4 
- This is a dominant mutation, meaning only 1 mutated gene is required

Huntington's Disease

- Two of the most well known diseases associated with damage to the basal ganglia include Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease 

Smith College

- Movement disorders can be caused by disorders of the brain, including the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and cortex

Brain Disorders and Motor Impairment 

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

- Common motor impairments caused by damage to the cerebral cortex include paralysis (plegia) or weakness (paresis) of voluntary movements, which typically happen one side of the body 
- This also includes increased rigidity caused by forced movement of limbs (known as spasticity), since the cortex no longer inhibit this response
- Damage to nonmotor zones of the cortex can cause apraxia (which can be further specified by ideomotor or ideational apraxia), which creates an inability to begin/ perform complex movements even while not being in a state of paralysis/weakness

Cerebral Cortex and Motor Impairments 

Basal Ganglia and Motor Impairments 

- The cerebellum's three major subdivisions are responsible for specific functions, which can cause specific motor and (subsequent) behavioral impairments when damaged 
- These subdivisions include the spinocerebellum, cerebrocerebellum, and vestibulocerebellum

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