What is the Net Output of the Direct Pathway of the Basal

Question

What is the net output of the direct pathway of the basal ganglia?
A) Facilitation of a specific movement
B) Inhibition of a specific movement
C) Increased overall movement
D) Control of the vestibular-occular reflex (VOR)

Accepted Answer

It is proposed that the direct pathway helps activate a specific movement. The indirect pathway counters this by inhibiting unwanted movements. This was shown most directly with optogenetic studies in which either the direct or indirect pathway was stimulated independently. Activation of the direct pathway facilitated movement (the example in the book is locomotion).