However, interaction at the interface of functions may not be sufficient to link across circuits to accommodate adaptive responses during the learning process or in response to new environmental cues. As such, mechanisms by which information “flows” through functional circuits are less well understood, but are fundamental for understanding how the execution of goal-directed actions evolve from reward and cognitive inputs. The striato-nigro-striatal network is an example of one such network. Within each of these sets of connected structures, there are both reciprocal connections linking up regions associated with similar functions However, in addition, there are nonreciprocal connections linking up regions that are associated with different cortical basal ganglia circuits. Each component of information (from limbic to motor outcome) sends both feedback and feedforward signals, allowing the transfer of information.
