Editing Caudate nucleus (section)

==Motor functions==

===Spatial mnemonic processing===
The caudate nucleus integrates spatial information with motor behavior formulation.  Selective impairment of [[spatial working memory]] in subjects with [[Parkinson's disease]] and the knowledge of the disease's impact on the amount of [[dopamine]] supplied to the [[striatum]] have linked the caudate nucleus to spatial and nonspatial mnemonic processing.  Spatially dependent motor preparation has been linked to the caudate nucleus through event-related [[fMRI]] analysis techniques.  Activity in the caudate nucleus was demonstrated to be greater during tasks featuring spatial and motoric memory demands than those that involved nonspatial tasks.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Postle BR, D'Esposito M | title = Dissociation of human caudate nucleus activity in spatial and nonspatial working memory: an event-related fMRI study | journal = Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research | volume = 8 | issue = 2 | pages = 107–15 | date = July 1999 | pmid = 10407200 | doi = 10.1016/s0926-6410(99)00010-5 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
Specifically, spatial working memory activity has been observed, via fMRI studies of delayed recognition, to be greater in the caudate nucleus when the activity immediately preceded a motor response.  These results indicate that the caudate nucleus could be involved in coding a motor response.  With this in mind, the caudate nucleus could be involved in the recruitment of the motor system to support working memory performance by the mediation of sensory-motor transformations.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Postle BR, D'Esposito M | title = Spatial working memory activity of the caudate nucleus is sensitive to frame of reference | journal = Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience | volume = 3 | issue = 2 | pages = 133–44 | date = June 2003 | pmid = 12943328 | doi = 10.3758/cabn.3.2.133 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

===Directed movements===
The caudate nucleus contributes importantly to body and limbs posture and the speed and accuracy of directed movements.  Deficits in posture and accuracy during paw-usage tasks were observed after the removal of caudate nuclei in cats.  A delay in initiating performance and the need to shift body position constantly were both observed in cats after partial removal of the nuclei.<ref name="pmid20407491" />

In monkeys, after the application of [[cocaine]] to the caudate nucleus and the resulting lesions produced, there was a "leaping or forward movement".  Because of its association with damage to the caudate, this movement demonstrates the inhibitory nature of the caudate nucleus.  The "motor release" caused by this procedure indicates that the caudate nucleus inhibits the tendency for an animal to move forward without resistance.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = White NM | title = Some highlights of research on the effects of caudate nucleus lesions over the past 200 years | journal = Behavioural Brain Research | volume = 199 | issue = 1 | pages = 3–23 | date = April 2009 | pmid = 19111791 | doi = 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.12.003 | s2cid = 3717092 }}</ref>