Producing adapted movements
Sensorimotor functions of
the cerebellum
EXCI-355 Neural
Control of Human
Movement
Plan
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Cerebellar structures
Connectivity
Movement implications
Pathology
Textbooks

Neuroscience, Purves et al.
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Principles of Neural Science, Kandel et al.
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
Figure 19.1 Overall organization and
subdivisions of the cerebellum (Part 1)
Know your cerebellum!
Figure 19.1 Ventral organization and
subdivisions of the cerebellum (Part 2)
Figure 19.1 Overall organization and
subdivisions of the cerebellum (Part 3)
Figure 19.2 Brainstem and diencephalon
components related to the cerebellum
Pontine nuclei – cortical
input
Inferior olive – movement
error/correction
Cuneate & Clarke –
proprioceptive input
Figure 19.3 Functional organization of the
inputs to the cerebellum (Part 1)
Ascending vs. descending
connectivity
Descending
input
Cortex
Ascending
projections
Cerebellum
Ascending
input
Descending
projections
Brainstem
Summary of inputs to the
cerebellum

Descending (from cortex)

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Motor cortex: Movement commands
Premotor cortex: Planning/selecting movement
Relayed via pontine and red nuclei
Ascending input (sensory information)
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Proprioceptive information
Vestibular information
Figure 19.3
Functional
organization
of the inputs
to the
cerebellum
(Part 2)
Regions of the cerebral cortex that
project to the cerebellum
P
F
O
T
Cortical inputs: premotor and motor areas in the frontal
cortex, and sensory areas in the parietal cortex
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
Figure 19.4 Somatotopic maps of the
body surface in the cerebellum

Sensory inputs
remain
topographically
mapped

Nearby cerebellar
areas control
adjacent body
parts
Figure 19.5 Functional organization
of cerebellar outputs
Figure 19.6 Functional organization of the
major ascending outputs from the
cerebellum (Part 1)

Outputs of deep
cerebellar nuclei:


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Exit the cerebellum
through the superior
cerebellar peduncle
Project direct to
subcortical targets
Through the
thalamus to motor
cortex
Figure 19.6 Functional organization of the major
ascending outputs from the cerebellum (Part 2)
Figure 19.8 Functional organization of the major
descending outputs from the cerebellum
Summary of efferent projections
from the cerebellum

Ascending:


Back to motor and premotor cortex
Descending:

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Superior colliculus: eye movements
Reticular formation: planning/correcting
movement
Vestibular nuclei: balance
Activity
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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 _____
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___
Figure 19.14 The pathology of neurological
diseases provides insights into the function of the
cerebellum
What part of
cerebellum is
damaged?
Figure 19.1 Overall organization and
subdivisions of the cerebellum (Part 1)
How might this damage give
rise to the deficit seen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jYaeRzY
F94
Figure 19.4 Somatotopic maps of the
body surface in the cerebellum

Sensory inputs
remain
topographically
mapped

Nearby cerebellar
areas control
adjacent body
parts
Which part of cerebellum do
you think is affected?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eBwn22B
nio
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Which hemisphere is lesioned?
Conclusions
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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