Interactive computational neuroscience

Basal Ganglia Attention Gate Lab

Explore how parallel basal-ganglia pathways can facilitate one candidate for attention or working-memory updating, suppress competitors, and pause selection when conflict is high.

Run the gate Back to products
Select · suppress · hold

Compete for the gate.

Start with a preset or change the inputs. The lab computes illustrative Go, NoGo, and net gate signals for three candidates, then opens only the strongest gate above threshold.

Interactive diagram
Basal ganglia attention gating diagram An interactive circuit and atlas-aligned schematic showing cortex, striatum, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, thalamus, and their gating pathways. Cortex / PFC candidate contents + goals Striatum D1 direct · Go Striatum D2 indirect · NoGo SNc dopamine GPe tonic inhibit STN global hold GPi / SNr tonic gate output Thalamus relay if released + + + − − − + −
Selected structure

GPi / SNr

Basal-ganglia output neurons fire tonically, keeping the thalamic or superior-colliculus gate closed. Direct-pathway inhibition pauses this output and releases a selected channel; indirect and hyperdirect activity strengthen the brake.

Attention candidates

illustrative units · 0–100
Task target
closed
80
85
20
Go0
NoGo0
Net gate0
Bright distractor
closed
95
30
70
Go0
NoGo0
Net gate0
Working-memory rule
closed
55
60
40
Go0
NoGo0
Net gate0

Global state

65
25
42
Gate result
Task target selected

The direct pathway releases the strongest channel while competing candidates remain suppressed.

What the demo claims

The gate controls access, not content.

In O’Reilly’s account, the basal ganglia do not specify the detailed content of a thought, eye movement, or working-memory update. They modulate which thalamocortical channel is allowed to complete.

01 · Parallel loops

Cognitive actions count

Selection extends beyond movement to oculomotor orienting, action plans, strategies, and working-memory updating.

02 · Disinhibition

Go releases a channel

The direct pathway inhibits tonic GPi/SNr output, disinhibiting a thalamic or superior-colliculus channel already receiving cortical drive.

03 · Competition

NoGo protects focus

The indirect pathway raises inhibition for competing channels, reducing interference from salient but task-inappropriate candidates.

04 · Learning

Dopamine changes policy

Bursts and dips alter D1/D2 pathway activity and plasticity, reinforcing successful selections and avoidance of costly ones.