The basal ganglia is a group of subcortical structures found within the cerebral hemispheres, including the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and subthalamic nucleus. Functionally, they are important for facilitating movement and inhibiting competing movement. They receive information from the cortex, first sent to the caudate and putamen, process that information, and send it back to the cortex via the thalamus. This forms a loop.