In this special episode of Stimulating Brains, we dive deep into the intricacies of the human brain with two esteemed guests, Mac Shine from Sydney University and Paul Cisek from the University of Montreal. Building upon our earlier conversation with Mac in episode 9, this episode sees these brilliant minds sharing their insights on the basal ganglia, the role of dopamine, and the fascinating interplay between various brain regions. In addition, we explore the modulation of the thalamus by the basal ganglia, discussing its impact on both the cortex and the brainstem. Moreover, the conversation takes us on a journey through the evolution of the brain, examining the concept of the phylogenetic refinement approach. Join us in this intellectually stimulating episode as we explore groundbreaking concepts that could significantly impact both systems and clinical neuroscience.