The globus pallidus externa (GPe) is a heterogeneous nucleus of the basal ganglia, with intricate connections to other basal ganglia nuclei, as well as direct connections to the cortex. The anatomic, molecular, and electrophysiologic properties of cortex-projecting pallidocortical neurons are not well characterized. Here, we show that pallidocortical neurons project to diverse motor and nonmotor cortical regions, are organized topographically in the GPe, and segregate into at least two distinct electrophysiological and molecular phenotypes. In addition, we find that the GPe receives direct synaptic input from deep layers of diverse motor and nonmotor cortical regions, some of which form reciprocal connections onto pallidocortical neurons. These results demonstrate the existence of a fast, bidirectional circuit between the GPe and the cortex that is ideally positioned to integrate information about behavioral goals, internal states, and environmental cues to rapidly modulate behavior.

中文翻译：

---

苍白球、外侧和皮层之间的倒数投影跨越运动区和非运动区

外苍白球 （GPe） 是基底神经节的异质核，与其他基底神经节核有着错综复杂的连接，也与皮层有直接连接。皮层投射的苍皮层神经元的解剖学、分子和电生理特性尚未得到很好的表征。在这里，我们表明苍皮层神经元投射到不同的运动和非运动皮层区域，在 GPe 中按地形组织，并分离成至少两种不同的电生理和分子表型。此外，我们发现 GPe 接收来自不同运动和非运动皮层深层的直接突触输入，其中一些在苍皮层神经元上形成相互连接。这些结果表明，GPe 和皮层之间存在一个快速的双向电路，该电路非常适合整合有关行为目标、内部状态和环境线索的信息，以快速调节行为。