Spatial organisation of the cortico-striatal projection system in the dog brain

Cortico-striatal projections of the dog brain caudate nucleus and putamen were shown to originate from widespread cortical areas, the cells of the origin being located both in supra- and subgranular cortical layers. The "motor" and the "limbic" portions of the neostriatum were separated on the basis of their predominant projections from functionally different cortical areas, the fact suggesting a parallel processing in the frontal cortico-basal ganglionar circuits. The findings suggest presence of both convergence and divergence patterns in the parallel processing.