Cerebellar Physiology

The cerebellum is typically associated with motor control although there is now extensive evidence that its involvement extends into other domains including cognitive processing. The cerebellum contains a highly regular neural organization, but exactly how this circuitry contributes to its diverse functions remains unclear. Patterns of inputs to and outputs from the cerebellum, together with intracerebellar connections, add layers of complexity to cerebellar computations that can differ between anatomically and physiologically defined modules. Different modules are therefore likely to be specialized for different functions, for example in balance and locomotion versus reach-to-grasp. However, the unifying role of the cerebellum in the control of motor and cognitive behavior may be to serve as a prediction device, refining these predictions based on actual outcomes, to enhance behavioral performance.