The basal nuclei, also known as the basal ganglia, is the name of a collection of subcortical structures that surround the thalamus at the base of the forebrain. The basal nuclei have a strong connection to multiple parts of the brain, including the brainstem, the thalamus and the cerebral cortex. Through these connections, the basal nuclei regulate different learning functions (habit learning and procedural learning), in addition to cognition, eye movements, voluntary motor movements, and emotions. Dysfunction of the basal nuclei can lead to disorders that affect movement and behavior control, including Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and dystonia.