1,721,072 research outputs found
Cerebellar information processing and visuospatial functions
No full textAlthough there are consistent reports of altered visuospatial abilities in subjects with cerebellar pathologies, and although experimental evidence indicates the importance of this part of the brain in spatial processing, the role of the cerebellum in this area remains elusive. In the present essay, experimental and clinical studies from our group, focussing relations between cerebellum and visuospatial functions are reviewed. Explorative behaviour, visuospatial abilities and sequential spatial processing functions are analyzed to focus cerebellar involvement in spatial data processing. Reviewed evidence enlightens the importance of the cerebellum for scanning sensory data to extract relevant spatial information and for the acquisition of spatial-related procedures. This hypothesis is discussed within the general framework of cerebellar involvement in cognition.Although there are consistent reports of altered visuospatial abilities in subjects with cerebellar pathologies, and although experimental evidence indicates the importance of this part of the brain in spatial processing, the role of the cerebellum in this area remains elusive. In the present essay, experimental and clinical studies from our group, focussing relations between cerebellum and visuospatial functions are reviewed. Explorative behaviour, visuospatial abilities and sequential spatial processing functions are analyzed to focus cerebellar involvement in spatial data processing. Reviewed evidence enlightens the importance of the cerebellum for scanning sensory data to extract relevant spatial information and for the acquisition of spatial-related procedures. This hypothesis is discussed within the general framework of cerebellar involvement in cognition
Cerebellum: cognitive functions
No full textIn the nineteenth century, researchers reached a consensus on the basis of animal ablation experiments that damage to the cerebellum leads to motor disorders but does not affect its sensory or cognitive functions. This model has been so influential that for over 100 years, the cerebellum has been considered to be strictly involved in motor control, whereas cerebellar function in cognition has been hotly debated. The current consensus is centered around the belief that the cerebellum intervenes in many domains, from motor to emotion and from sensory processing to learning. This article discusses the cognitive functions of the cerebellum. Examples of cerebellar involvement in various higher cognition functions will be provided, and theories on the specificity of the cerebellar contribution to cognition will be advanced
Cerebellar sequencing. A trick for predicting the future
No full text“Looking into the future” well depicts one of the most significant concepts in cognitive neuroscience: the brain is constantly predicting future events. Such directedness toward the future has been recognized to be relevant to and beneficial for many aspects of information processing in humans, such as perception, motor and cognitive control, decision making, theory of mind, and other cognitive processes. Because one of the most adaptive characteristics of the brain is to correct errors, the ability to “look into the future” represents the best chance to avoid repeating errors. Within the structures that constitute the “predictive brain,” the cerebellum has been proposed to have a central function, based on its ability to generate internal models. We suggested that ‘‘sequence detection” is the operational mode of the cerebellum in predictive processing. According to this hypothesis, the cerebellum detects and simulates repetitive patterns of temporally or spatially structured events and generates internal models that can be used to make predictions. Consequently, we demonstrate that the cerebellum recognizes serial events as a sequence, detects a sequence violation, and successfully reconstructs the correct sequence of events. Thus, we hypothesize that pattern detection and prediction and processing of anticipation are cerebellum-specific functions within the brain and that the ‘‘sequence detection” hypothesis links the multifarious impairments that are reported in patients with cerebellar damage. We propose that this cerebellar operational mode can advance our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms in various clinical conditions, such as schizophrenia and autism
Clinical functional topography in cognition
No full textIn the last few decades, there have been an increasing number of studies focusing on better characterizing the cerebellar functions beyond motor control, including emotional and social domains. Anatomical and functional evidence strongly contributes to delineating the cerebellar functional subdivisions and their integration with cerebral functional networks strictly related to emotional regulation and social functioning, thus suggesting a model of cerebellar organization that resembles that of the cerebral cortex. Overcoming the traditional segregation of cerebro-cerebellar networks in sensorimotor/cognitive functional modules, during emotional/social processes, the cerebellar activity reflects a domain-specific mentalizing functionality that is strongly connected with corresponding mentalizing networks in the cerebrum. Additionally, the cerebro-cerebellar organization has been shown to have a specific functional and maturational trajectory that is only in part dependent on a structural maturational process and that is protracted from an early stage of life through adolescence and adulthood, when the mature control networks involve both segregation and integration of the brain regions that comprise them. Altogether, these findings underscore the importance of regional functional differences within the cerebellum in relation to emotional and social processing and raise questions about the clinical implication of cerebellar injury on emotional/social behaviours, both in the developing and the adult brai
Influence of disorders of visual perception in word-to-picture matching tasks in patients with Alzheimer's disease
No full textPatients affected by early Alzheimer's disease were given word-to-picture matching tasks in which the foils shared lexical-semantic, phonological, or visual-perceptual features with the target. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the visual perceptual deficit in lexical comprehension tasks based on pictorial material. The results demonstrated that perceptual deficits are common in Alzheimer's disease. This finding is in agreement with the hypothesis that multiple modular deficits in Alzheimer's disease contribute to impaired comprehension. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.Patients affected by early Alzheimer's disease were given word-to-picture matching tasks in which the foils shared lexical-semantic, phonological, or visual-perceptual features with the target. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the visual perceptual deficit in lexical comprehension tasks based on pictorial material. The results demonstrated that perceptual deficits are common in Alzheimer's disease. This finding is in agreement with the hypothesis that multiple modular deficits in Alzheimer's disease contribute to impaired comprehension. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc
The cerebellum and neural networks for rhythmic sensorimotor synchronization in the human brain
No full textSensorimotor synchronization (SMS) is the rhythmic synchronization between a timed sensory stimulus and a motor response. This rather simple function requires complex cerebral processing whose basic mechanisms are far from clear. The importance of SMS is related to its hypothesized relevance in motor recovery following brain lesions. This is witnessed by the large number of studies in different disciplines addressing this issue. In the present review we will focus on the role of the cerebellum by referring to the general modeling of SMS functioning. Although at present no consensus exists on cerebellar timekeeping function it is generally accepted that cerebellar input and output flow process time information. Reviewed data are considered within the framework of the 'sensory coordination' hypothesis of cerebellar functioning. The idea that timing might be within the parameters that are under cerebellar control to optimize cerebral cortical functioning is advanced.Sensorimotor synchronization (SMS) is the rhythmic synchronization between a timed sensory stimulus and a motor response. This rather simple function requires complex cerebral processing whose basic mechanisms are far from clear. The importance of SMS is related to its hypothesized relevance in motor recovery following brain lesions. This is witnessed by the large number of studies in different disciplines addressing this issue. In the present review we will focus on the role of the cerebellum by referring to the general modeling of SMS functioning. Although at present no consensus exists on cerebellar timekeeping function it is generally accepted that cerebellar input and output flow process time information. Reviewed data are considered within the framework of the 'sensory coordination' hypothesis of cerebellar functioning. The idea that timing might be within the parameters that are under cerebellar control to optimize cerebral cortical functioning is advanced
Verbal fluency and agrammatism.
No full textSince the beginning of this centuxy it has been documented that cerebellar lesions induce speech ddicits but these were thought to result from lack of motor coordination in the muscular activity needed for phonation. The pure motor nature of the cerebeliurn has been challenged on different
grounds, and cerebellar activation has been documented in languagerelated tasks independently from motor activity. This chapter reviews the available evidence in fivor of a cerebellar conmbution to linguistic processing,
focusing mady on clinii obsemtions in patients. The clinical finding are discussed in the light of recent theones on cerebellar functions.Since the beginning of this centuxy it has been documented that cerebellar lesions induce speech ddicits but these were thought to result from lack of motor coordination in the muscular activity needed for phonation. The pure motor nature of the cerebeliurn has been challenged on different
grounds, and cerebellar activation has been documented in languagerelated tasks independently from motor activity. This chapter reviews the available evidence in fivor of a cerebellar conmbution to linguistic processing,
focusing mady on clinii obsemtions in patients. The clinical finding are discussed in the light of recent theones on cerebellar functions
Neuronal plasticity of interrelated cerebellar and cortical networks
No full textThe comprehension of the cerebellar physiology is rapidly changing in particular because of the demonstration of the cerebellar importance on cognition. In the present paper, recent data on cerebrocerebellar interactions is reviewed, particularly focusing on cerebellar influences over the neurophysiology of primary motor and primary sensory cortices. The cerebellar role in implicit learning and in sensory data processing is analysed and discussed. It is proposed that the cerebellum could control cortical plastic changes by modulating cortical excitability in a discrete topographic manner and that this mechanism could induce the coupling between significant sensory inputs and definite motor outputs considered as the neurobiological substrate for implicit learning. (C) 2002 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.The comprehension of the cerebellar physiology is rapidly changing in particular because of the demonstration of the cerebellar importance on cognition. In the present paper, recent data on cerebrocerebellar interactions is reviewed, particularly focusing on cerebellar influences over the neurophysiology of primary motor and primary sensory cortices. The cerebellar role in implicit learning and in sensory data processing is analysed and discussed. It is proposed that the cerebellum could control cortical plastic changes by modulating cortical excitability in a discrete topographic manner and that this mechanism could induce the coupling between significant sensory inputs and definite motor outputs considered as the neurobiological substrate for implicit learning. (C) 2002 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Experimental correlations between cerebral blood flow and cortical functions after cerebellar lesions.
No full textCerebellum: clinical pathology.
No full textIn the last 20 years much has changed of our understanding of cerebellar functioning, nevertheless the clinical approach to cerebellar symptoms is remarkably similar to that in use at the beginning of 1900. Classical approach to signs and symptoms related to cerebellar damage is presented together with modern interpretation of the pathophysiological mechanisms. The importance of the cerebellum in cognition is focused with emphasis on the clinical relevance of the understanding of cerebro-cerebellar interactions
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