# Yin, 2014: How Basal Ganglia Outputs Generate Behavior

**URL:** <http://discourse.iapct.org/t/yin-2014-how-basal-ganglia-outputs-generate-behavior/12638>\
**Category:** CSG2014\
**Created:** [December 23, 2014, 8:56am UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/yin-2014-how-basal-ganglia-outputs-generate-behavior/12638 "2014-12-23T08:56:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Matti](http://discourse.iapct.org/user_avatar/discourse.iapct.org/matti/32/3066_2.png) [@Matti](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Matti)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 8:56am UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/yin-2014-how-basal-ganglia-outputs-generate-behavior/12638/1 "2014-12-23T08:56:38Z")

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[From MK (2014.12.23.1000 CET)]

Advances in Neuroscience  
Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 768313  
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/768313](http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/768313)

How Basal Ganglia Outputs Generate Behavior  
Henry H. Yin

"The basal ganglia (BG) are a collection of subcortical nuclei  
critical for voluntary behavior. According to the standard model, the  
output projections from the BG tonically inhibit downstream motor  
centers and prevent behavior. A pause in the BG output opens the gate  
for behavior, allowing the initiation of actions. Hypokinetic  
neurological symptoms, such as inability to initiate actions in  
Parkinson’s disease, are explained by excessively high firing rates of  
the BG output neurons. This model, widely taught in textbooks, is  
contradicted by recent electrophysiological results, which are  
reviewed here. In addition, I also introduce a new model, based on the  
insight that behavior is a product of closed loop negative feedback  
control using internal reference signals rather than sensorimotor  
transformations. The nervous system is shown to be a functional  
hierarchy comprising independent controllers occupying different  
levels, each level controlling specific variables derived from its  
perceptual inputs. The BG represent the level of transition control in  
this hierarchy, sending reference signals specifying the succession of  
body orientations and configurations. This new model not only explains  
the major symptoms in movement disorders but also generates a number  
of testable predictions."

[...]

"I shall first discuss current models of the BG and recent results  
that begin to challenge these models. I shall then explain how control  
theory, correctly applied, can help us understand behavior, and how  
different control systems can be arranged in a hierarchy using the  
principle of cascade control. Finally, I shall discuss the neural  
implementation of cascade control and the distinct contributions of  
the BG in this functional hierarchy."

Full-text, HTML: [http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aneu/2014/768313/](http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aneu/2014/768313/)

M

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**Author:** ![Abbott](http://discourse.iapct.org/user_avatar/discourse.iapct.org/abbott/32/2879_2.png) [@Abbott](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Abbott)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/yin-2014-how-basal-ganglia-outputs-generate-behavior/12638/2 "2014-12-23T15:59:25Z")

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[From Bruce Abbott (2014.12.23.1100 EST)]

Thanks for posting this, Matti.

This article by Henry Yin will count, I believe, as a milestone in neuroscience. Wow!

Bruce A.

from MK (2014.12.23.1000 CET)

Advances in Neuroscience  
Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 768313  
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/768313](http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/768313)

How Basal Ganglia Outputs Generate Behavior Henry H. Yin

"The basal ganglia (BG) are a collection of subcortical nuclei critical for voluntary behavior. According to the standard model, the output projections from the BG tonically inhibit downstream motor centers and prevent behavior. A pause in the BG output opens the gate for behavior, allowing the initiation of actions. Hypokinetic neurological symptoms, such as inability to initiate actions in Parkinson’s disease, are explained by excessively high firing rates of the BG output neurons. This model, widely taught in textbooks, is contradicted by recent electrophysiological results, which are reviewed here. In addition, I also introduce a new model, based on the insight that behavior is a product of closed loop negative feedback control using internal reference signals rather than sensorimotor transformations. The nervous system is shown to be a functional hierarchy comprising independent controllers occupying different levels, each level controlling specific variables derived from its perceptual inputs. The BG represent the level of transition control in this hierarchy, sending reference signals specifying the succession of body orientations and configurations. This new model not only explains the major symptoms in movement disorders but also generates a number of testable predictions."

[...]

"I shall first discuss current models of the BG and recent results that begin to challenge these models. I shall then explain how control theory, correctly applied, can help us understand behavior, and how different control systems can be arranged in a hierarchy using the principle of cascade control. Finally, I shall discuss the neural implementation of cascade control and the distinct contributions of the BG in this functional hierarchy."

Full-text, HTML: [http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aneu/2014/768313/](http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aneu/2014/768313/)

M

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tedcloak](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tedcloak](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/tedcloak)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/yin-2014-how-basal-ganglia-outputs-generate-behavior/12638/3 "2014-12-23T16:24:35Z")

</div>

[From Ted Cloak (2014.12.23.9:22 MST)]

[From MK (2014.12.23.1000 CET)]

Advances in Neuroscience  
Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 768313  
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/768313](http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/768313)

How Basal Ganglia Outputs Generate Behavior Henry H. Yin

"The basal ganglia (BG) are a collection of subcortical nuclei critical for voluntary behavior. According to the standard model, the output projections from the BG tonically inhibit downstream motor centers and prevent behavior. A pause in the BG output opens the gate for behavior, allowing the initiation of actions. Hypokinetic neurological symptoms, such as inability to initiate actions in Parkinson’s disease, are explained by excessively high firing rates of the BG output neurons. This model, widely taught in textbooks, is contradicted by recent electrophysiological results, which are reviewed here. In addition, I also introduce a new model, based on the insight that behavior is a product of closed loop negative feedback control using internal reference signals rather than sensorimotor transformations. The nervous system is shown to be a functional hierarchy comprising independent controllers occupying different levels, each level controlling specific variables derived from its perceptual inputs. The BG represent the level of transition control in this hierarchy, sending reference signals specifying the succession of body orientations and configurations. This new model not only explains the major symptoms in movement disorders but also generates a number of testable predictions."

[...]

"I shall first discuss current models of the BG and recent results that begin to challenge these models. I shall then explain how control theory, correctly applied, can help us understand behavior, and how different control systems can be arranged in a hierarchy using the principle of cascade control. Finally, I shall discuss the neural implementation of cascade control and the distinct contributions of the BG in this functional hierarchy."

Full-text, HTML: [http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aneu/2014/768313/](http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aneu/2014/768313/)

M  
[TC] Dare I hope that this is a breakthrough for us? Note that he cites B:CP and Marken (2001).  
Holiday Greetings to All!  
Ted

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rsmarken](http://discourse.iapct.org/user_avatar/discourse.iapct.org/rsmarken/32/3553_2.png) [@rsmarken](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/rsmarken)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:10am UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/yin-2014-how-basal-ganglia-outputs-generate-behavior/12638/4 "2014-12-24T00:10:01Z")

</div>

[From Rick Marken (2014.12.23.1610)]

> **···**
>
> > MK (2014.12.23.1000 CET)–
> > 
> > Advances in Neuroscience
> > 
> > Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 768313
> > 
> > [http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/768313](http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/768313)
> > 
> > How Basal Ganglia Outputs Generate Behavior
> > 
> > Henry H. Yin
> 
> RM: Thanks for this Matti! Congratulations to Henry Yin. The article is a masterwork; neurophysiology at its best. Makes me feel proud that Henry wrote the Foreword to my book “Doing Research on Purpose”
> 
> Best regards
> 
> Rick
> 
> > "The basal ganglia (BG) are a collection of subcortical nuclei
> > 
> > critical for voluntary behavior. According to the standard model, the
> > 
> > output projections from the BG tonically inhibit downstream motor
> > 
> > centers and prevent behavior. A pause in the BG output opens the gate
> > 
> > for behavior, allowing the initiation of actions. Hypokinetic
> > 
> > neurological symptoms, such as inability to initiate actions in
> > 
> > Parkinson’s disease, are explained by excessively high firing rates of
> > 
> > the BG output neurons. This model, widely taught in textbooks, is
> > 
> > contradicted by recent electrophysiological results, which are
> > 
> > reviewed here. In addition, I also introduce a new model, based on the
> > 
> > insight that behavior is a product of closed loop negative feedback
> > 
> > control using internal reference signals rather than sensorimotor
> > 
> > transformations. The nervous system is shown to be a functional
> > 
> > hierarchy comprising independent controllers occupying different
> > 
> > levels, each level controlling specific variables derived from its
> > 
> > perceptual inputs. The BG represent the level of transition control in
> > 
> > this hierarchy, sending reference signals specifying the succession of
> > 
> > body orientations and configurations. This new model not only explains
> > 
> > the major symptoms in movement disorders but also generates a number
> > 
> > of testable predictions."
> > 
> > […]
> > 
> > "I shall first discuss current models of the BG and recent results
> > 
> > that begin to challenge these models. I shall then explain how control
> > 
> > theory, correctly applied, can help us understand behavior, and how
> > 
> > different control systems can be arranged in a hierarchy using the
> > 
> > principle of cascade control. Finally, I shall discuss the neural
> > 
> > implementation of cascade control and the distinct contributions of
> > 
> > the BG in this functional hierarchy."
> > 
> > Full-text, HTML: [http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aneu/2014/768313/](http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aneu/2014/768313/)
> > 
> > M
> 
> –  
> Richard S. Marken, Ph.D.  
> Author of [Doing Research on Purpose](http://www.amazon.com/Doing-Research-Purpose-Experimental-Psychology/dp/0944337554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407342866&sr=8-1&keywords=doing+research+on+purpose).  
> Now available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble