The term basal ganglia refers to the group of large nuclei that comprise the major subcortical portion of the endbrain. Classically the group included the striatum, the globus pallidus, the claustrum, the endopiriform nucleus, the amygdala and intervening tracts and laminae ( Nomina-1983 ). Most authors now use the term in reference to the basal ganglia circuit. Some earlier authors used it in referring to subsets of the classical group ( see: basal ganglia of Carpenter, basal ganglia of Crosby, and basal ganglia of Martin ).