Difference between the Basal Ganglia and Cerebellum?

[manohman]

Having trouble distinguishing between the basal ganglia and cerebellum.
Besides anatomically (basal = telencephalon/forebrain) and cerebellum is hindbrain.

Both are involved in movement coordination. And the basal ganglia uses extramedullary tracta but i dont quite understand the distinction between the two structures

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[NeuroSoph75]

The cerebellum is involved in the coordination of movement. A simple way to look at its purpose is that it compares what you thought you were going to do with what is actually happening down in the limbs, and corrects the movement if there is a problem. It is also involved in motor learning (eg. learning to ride a bike.)

The basal ganglia are involved in the control of complex patterns of movements. Many of their functions are actually still a mystery in neuroscience. However, it is known that they inhibit "inappropriate" movements. A lesion to these areas releases the movements that the ganglia inhibit (think Parkinson's or Tourette syndrome).

For the MCAT, it might be helpful to know that the output of the cerebellum is excitatory, while the basal ganglia are inhibitory.