Accounting for uncertainty: inhibition for neural inference in the cerebellum

Ensor R Palacios*, Conor J Houghton, Paul T Chadderton

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
107 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Sensorimotor coordination is thought to rely on cerebellar-based internal models for state estimation, but the underlying neural mechanisms and specific contribution of the cerebellar components is unknown. A central aspect of any inferential process is the representation of uncertainty or conversely precision characterizing the ensuing estimates. Here, we discuss the possible contribution of inhibition to the encoding of precision of neural representations in the granular layer of the cerebellar cortex. Within this layer, Golgi cells influence excitatory granule cells, and their action is critical in shaping information transmission downstream to Purkinje cells. In this review, we equate the ensuing excitation–inhibition balance in the granular layer with the outcome of a precision-weighted inferential process, and highlight the physiological characteristics of Golgi cell inhibition that are consistent with such computations.
Original languageEnglish
Article number0276
Pages (from-to)20210276
Number of pages1
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences
Volume288
Issue number1947
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Mar 2021

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