E-Mail IMAGE: Shown here in green are branches, or axons, from cells in the substantia nigra region that connect to the midbrain. Red spots label where cells connect. view more Credit: Lauren McElvain / Kleinfeld lab / UC San Diego) Thousands of our daily activities, from making coffee to taking a walk to saying hello to a neighbor, are made possible through an ancient collection of brain structures tucked away near the center of the cranium. The cluster of neurons known as the basal ganglia is a central hub for regulating a vast array of routine motor and behavior functions. But when signaling in the basal ganglia is weakened or broken, debilitating movement and psychiatric disorders can emerge, including Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder.