1. Sensorimotor functions of the cerebellum
Producing adapted movements
Sensorimotor functions of the cerebellum
EXCI-355 Neural Control of Human Movement

2. Plan Cerebellar structures Connectivity Movement implications
Pathology

3. Textbooks Neuroscience, Purves et al.
Principles of Neural Science, Kandel et al.

4. Functions of the cerebellum
Motor correction: adjusting movement on the fly based on sensory and proprioceptive input
Motor learning: Improving performance of motor sequences with repetition
Balance, coordinating muscle systems across the body

5. Figure 19.1 Overall organization and subdivisions of the cerebellum (Part 1)

6. Know your cerebellum!

7. Figure 19.1 Ventral organization and subdivisions of the cerebellum (Part 2)

8. Figure 19.1 Overall organization and subdivisions of the cerebellum (Part 3)

9. Figure 19.2 Brainstem and diencephalon components related to the cerebellum
midbrain
Pontine nuclei – cortical input
Inferior olive – movement error/correction
Cuneate & Clarke – proprioceptive input
pons
medulla

10. Figure 19.3 Functional organization of the inputs to the cerebellum (Part 1)

11. Ascending vs. descending connectivity
input
Ascending projections
Cortex
Cerebellum
Descending
projections
Ascending input
Brainstem

12. Summary of inputs to the cerebellum
Descending (from cortex)
Motor cortex: Movement commands
Premotor cortex: Planning/selecting movement
Relayed via pontine and red nuclei
Ascending input (sensory information)
Proprioceptive information
Vestibular information

13. Figure 19.3 Functional organization of the inputs to the cerebellum (Part 2)

14. Regions of the cerebral cortex that project to the cerebellum
Cortical inputs: premotor and motor areas in the frontal
cortex, and sensory areas in the parietal cortex

15. Figure 19.1 Functional organization of cerebellar hemispheres
Cerebrocerebellum: Motor planning and coordination
Spinocerebellum: Control of ongoing body and limb movements
Vestibulocerebellum: Posture, balance, eye movements

16. Figure 19.4 Somatotopic maps of the body surface in the cerebellum
Sensory inputs remain topographically mapped
Nearby cerebellar areas control adjacent body parts

17. Figure 19.5 Functional organization of cerebellar outputs

18. Outputs of deep cerebellar nuclei:
Figure Functional organization of the major ascending outputs from the cerebellum (Part 1)
Outputs of deep cerebellar nuclei:
Exit the cerebellum through the superior cerebellar peduncle
Project direct to subcortical targets
Through the thalamus to motor cortex

19. Figure 19.6 Functional organization of the major ascending outputs from the cerebellum (Part 2)

20. Figure 19.8 Functional organization of the major descending outputs from the cerebellum

21. Summary of efferent projections from the cerebellum
Ascending:
Back to motor and premotor cortex
Descending:
Superior colliculus: eye movements
Reticular formation: planning/correcting movement
Vestibular nuclei: balance

22. Activity
The cerebellum cares about the opposite side of the body _____
The cerebellum gets information from the spinal cord _____
The cerebellum gets information from the cerebral cortex _____
The cerebellum is organized of a cortex part and a nuclear part _____

23. Activity
The cerebellum cares about the opposite side of the body __F___
The cerebellum gets information from the spinal cord __T___
The cerebellum gets information from the cerebral cortex __T___
The cerebellum is organized of a cortex part and a nuclear part __T___

24. Figure The pathology of neurological diseases provides insights into the function of the cerebellum
What part of cerebellum is damaged?

25. Figure 19.1 Overall organization and subdivisions of the cerebellum (Part 1)

26. How might this damage give rise to the deficit seen?

27. Figure 19.4 Somatotopic maps of the body surface in the cerebellum
Sensory inputs remain topographically mapped
Nearby cerebellar areas control adjacent body parts

28. Which part of cerebellum do you think is affected?
Which hemisphere is lesioned?

29. Conclusions
The cerebellum helps in motor coordination by parallel computations
Is involved in motor planning and execution
Damage to the cerebellum:
Causes ipsilateral deficits
Interferes with smooth, coordinate movement