Final answer:
The basal ganglia are responsible for inhibitory control in the brain, specifically through the indirect pathway that decreases the activity of the thalamus and cortical control of movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The part of the brain implicated in inhibitory control is the basal ganglia, a group of interconnected brain areas that are crucial for movement control, posture, and motivation. The basal ganglia have two pathways processing information within the cerebrum: the direct and the indirect pathway. The indirect pathway includes connections from the striatum to the globus pallidus external segment, subthalamic nucleus, and then to the globus pallidus internal segment/substantia nigra pars compacta, which ultimately inhibits the thalamus, decreasing cortical control of movement.
Additionally, the basal ganglia are associated with the regulation of motor activity, reward-based learning, and the modulation of affective behaviors through dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. An example highlighting the role of the basal ganglia in motivation is a reported case where basal ganglia damage, resulting from a wasp sting, caused a 25-year-old businessman to show a lack of initiative and interest, a condition improved with external stimulation.