1. Cerebellum
Lec 12

4. Functional regions of cerebellum
Cerebrocerebellum (hemispheres):
coordination of voluntary movements, cognitive role?
Spinocerebellum &
Vestibulocerebellum (midline):
posture and balance, eye movements
Purves, 18-5

6. What kinds of information does the cerebellum receive?
auditory
proprioceptive
somatosensory
visual
vestibular

7. Cerebellar circuit diagram
The cerebellum is a fast feedback loop that helps smooth and coordinate all movements
inputs arrive at the cerebellar cortex
the cortex processes the information
and projects to the deep nuclei
the deep nuclei generate the output.

9. Principal OUTPUTS from the cerebellum
Premotor Cx
Cerebral
Cortex
Primary motor Cx
Thalamus VL
Red
nucleus
Vestibular
nuclei
Inferior
olive
Thalamus
(VL)
Superior cereb.
peduncle
Superior
cerebellar
peduncle
Deep nuclei
Pons
Vestib. nuclei
CEREBELLAR CORTEX
Deep
cereb.
nuclei
Inf. olive
from Purves, 18-6

10. The cerebellar microcircuit
Stellate cell
cortex + + +
parallel fiber
Basket
cell + +
Purkinje
neuron
Golgi
cell
granule cell + +
Deep
cerebellar
nuclei
climbing fiber + +
mossy fiber
Cortex
Red nucleus
Spinal cord
Inferior
olive
Vestibular
Pons
Spinal cord
All other
inputs

11. Cerebellar dysfunction
Neurological signs:
Ataxia
Tremor
Dysdiadochokinesis
Dysarthria and scanning speech
Nystagmus
Hypotonia
Cerebellar ataxia (Romberg test)
Dysmetria
Diplopia
Cognitive dysfunction
Symptoms:
Nausea - vomiting
Dizziness
Vertigo
Hand shaking
Imbalance
Falls
Clumsiness
Slurred speech
Double vision
Difficulty concentrating

12. VARNISHED

13. Summary
The cerebellum “balances” motor commands and sensory information to smooth and coordinate movement.
Lesions of the cerebellum cause ataxia, tremor, balance and posture problems.
Inputs to cerebellum: mossy fibers (pons & spinal cord) & climbing fibers (inferior olive).
Purkinje neurons use the neurotransmitter GABA and inhibit their targets in the deep nuclei.
Outputs from cerebellum: deep nuclei to red nucleus, thalamus, inferior olive, and vestibular nuclei.
Associative forms of motor learning occur in the cerebellum.
Think of the cerebellum when you’re in the ER

14. This is cerebellum!