We saw that the limbic system (which is closely linked to the cortex, a region of the brain that stores our memories) is essential for memory, learning and emotional behaviours.

What about movement? The control of movement involves a hierarchical and interconnected network that includes:

1. Motor area of the frontal lobe
2. Basal ganglia located inside the cerebral hemispheres
3. Pons
4. Cerebellum

	The medial surface of a human brain
	Source: Douglas Hospital Research Center's Brain Bank (Montreal, Canada). If you wish to obtain further information on the Brain Bank or the procedure for donating a brain, please send an e-mail to banque.de.cerveaux@douglas.mcgill.ca

1. Motor area

• The highest level of the network (in direct relation with basal ganglia, the cerebellum and the pons)
• Initiates the activation of muscles (involuntary movements)
• Controls precisely the conscious voluntary movements of hands and fingers (acts directly with the spinal cord)
• Play a pivotal role in the learning of various motor skills

2. Basal ganglia (not visible in the picture)

• Closely related to motor area
• Control tone and regulate involuntary movements by modulating strength and direction.
• Contribute to perform complex movements
• Participate in the acquisition of motor skills

3. Pons

• Connects the brain to the spinal cord
• Involved in body tone that is necessary to be kept upright
• Involved in the control of ocular and facial movements
• Involved in physiological regulations (breathing, blood pressure...)

4. Cerebellum

• Closely linked to motor area and pons
• Modulates and coordinates voluntary movements initiated by motor area in order to be correctly accomplished (in particular fast movements)
• Maintains balance and posture
• Role in learning and acquisition of various motor skills

This network (and in particular basal ganglia) intervenes not only in the control of movement but also in learning and acquisition of motor skills (for example to serve in tennis, to change gears in a car, or to use a spoon): we say that this network plays a role in the functioning of the implicit memory ^[1].

Implicit memory is preserved during normal brain aging and in people with Alzheimer's disease (contrary to explicit memory). It is however disturbed in people that suffer from diseases caused by the destruction of basal ganglia (such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases).

Stéphane Bastianetto, Ph.D.
August 2005

Notices

1 Implicit memory (that includes procedural memory) is opposed to explicit memory (also called declarative memory) since the former one consists of recalling personal events and facts in a specific context.
To summarize:
Implicit (procedural) memory = learning of motor skills
Explicit memory = learning and use of knowledge about facts (semantic knowledge) and events (episodic memory)

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Section Brain