![]() Input and output pathways of the cerebellum.Ĭlick on the names of each cerebellum functional subdivision (cerebrocerebellum, spinocerebellum, and vestibulocerebellum) to view each pathway in isolation. We will only be concerned with some of the larger divisions of the cerebellar cortex. Like the cerebral cortex, cerebellar gyri are reproducible across individuals and have been identified and named. A cross-section through the cerebellum reveals the intricate pattern of folds and fissures that characterize the cerebellar cortex (Figure 5.3). These nuclei are encased by a highly convoluted sheet of tissue called the cerebellar cortex, which contains almost all of the neurons in the cerebellum. The cerebellar deep nuclei (or cerebellar nuclei) are the sole output structures of the cerebellum. ![]() The cerebellum consists of two major parts (Figure 5.2A). Thus, like the basal ganglia, the cerebellum is historically considered as part of the motor system, but its functions extend beyond motor control in ways that are not yet well understood. Although the cerebellum is most understood in terms of its contributions to motor control, it is also involved in certain cognitive functions, such as language. The cerebellum plays a major role in adapting and fine-tuning motor programs to make accurate movements through a trial-and-error process (e.g., learning to hit a baseball).Ĭognitive functions. The cerebellum is important for motor learning. One major function of the cerebellum is to coordinate the timing and force of these different muscle groups to produce fluid limb or body movements. Most movements are composed of a number of different muscle groups acting together in a temporally coordinated fashion. Patients with cerebellar damage suffer from balance disorders, and they often develop stereotyped postural strategies to compensate for this problem (e.g., a wide-based stance).Ĭoordination of voluntary movements. ![]() ![]() Through its input from vestibular receptors and proprioceptors, it modulates commands to motor neurons to compensate for shifts in body position or changes in load upon muscles. The cerebellum is important for making postural adjustments in order to maintain balance. The cerebellum is involved in the following functions: Motor commands are not initiated in the cerebellum rather, the cerebellum modifies the motor commands of the descending pathways to make movements more adaptive and accurate. Historically, the cerebellum has been considered a motor structure, because cerebellar damage leads to impairments in motor control and posture and because the majority of the cerebellum’s outputs are to parts of the motor system. Although the cerebellum accounts for approximately 10% of the brain’s volume, it contains over 50% of the total number of neurons in the brain. The cerebellum (“little brain”) is a structure that is located at the back of the brain, underlying the occipital and temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex (Figure 5.1). ![]()
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