Cerebellum function

\( \newcommand\) • • • • • • • Cerebellar function was once believed to be motor-specific, but newer findings suggest the cerebellum is also involved in higher-level brain processing. Key Points • The cerebellum is essential for making fine adjustments to motor actions. Cerebellar dysfunction primarily results in problems with motor control. • Four principles are important to cerebellar processing: feedforward processing, divergence and convergence, modularity, and plasticity. • Signal processing in the cerebellum is almost entirely feedforward. Signals move through the system from input to output with very little internal transmission. • The cerebellum both receives input and transmits output via a limited number of cells. • The cerebellar system is divided into thousands of independent modules with similar structure. Key Terms • neural divergence: When a neuron fires and the signal is sent to many other neurons. • neuroplasticity: Changes in neural pathways and synapses due to changes in behavior, environment, neural processes, or bodily injury. • feedforward processing: A property of some neural circuits where signals move unidirectionally through the system from input to output with very little recurrent internal transmission. Examining the consequences of damage to the the cerebellum provides the strongest clues to its function. Animals and humans with cerebellar dysfunction show problems with motor control. They can still generate motor activity, but lose precision a...

The cerebellum, one of three main parts that make up your brain, is responsible for coordinating movement and balance. Also known as the “little brain,” it plays a vital role in language and attention and can assist people with vision and eye movement. Located toward the back of the brain, the cerebellum is one of the densest structures in the brain and is well protected from trauma compared to the brain stem, frontal, and temporal lobes. When a person experiences damage to this area, it may result in movement and coordination difficulties. It could also make it hard to maintain posture or control motor learning. Continue reading to discover more about the functions, anatomy, and disorders linked to the cerebellum. What Is the Cerebellum? The cerebellum is a major structure of your hindbrain responsible for a wide range of functions, including coordinating your movements. It is important in processing some types of memory. Over The cerebellum, cerebrum, and brain stem are the three main parts of your brain. The brain stem connects to your spinal cord and sits just underneath the cerebrum. The largest part of the brain is the cerebrum, which consists of four lobes, each with a distinct function. It is responsible for managing processes such as breathing, digestion, and sleeping. A narrow midline area called the vermis connects the What Does the Cerebellum Do? Our understanding of the cerebellum continues to grow as technology advances. New studies analyzing the areas of the...

Overview The cerebellum, also known as the hindbrain. What is the cerebellum? Your cerebellum is a part of your brain located at the back of your head, just above and behind where your spinal cord connects to your brain itself. The name “cerebellum” comes from Latin and means “little brain.” For centuries, scientists believed your cerebellum’s job was to coordinate your muscle movements. Advances in technology have shown that your cerebellum does much more than that. There’s much that scientists are still trying to understand about the cerebellum, including all the ways it works with the rest of your nervous system. What’s the difference between the cerebellum and cerebrum? Your cerebellum is a small part of your brain located at the bottom of this organ near the back of your head. Your Function What does the cerebellum do? Scientists started analyzing the cerebellum more than 200 years ago by studying people or animals with cerebellum damage. They found people with this kind of damage usually had trouble keeping their balance while standing or walking, or they’d have trouble reaching for objects because their hands would miss an object they were trying to pick up. Over time, scientists started finding evidence that cerebellum damage could have other effects. They found that damage could make it harder or for a person to learn new words or skills. Damage to your cerebellum can interfere with judging the size of or distance from objects. It can also affect your sense of tim...

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our • Barton RA, et al. (2014). Rapid evolution of the cerebellum in humans and other great apes. • Jimsheleishvili S. (2021). Neuroanatomy, cerebellum. • Klein AP, et al. (2016). Nonmotor functions of the cerebellum: An introduction. • Lackey EP, et al. (2018). Recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of cerebellar granule cell development and function and their contribution to behavior.

Educator, Researcher BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester Saul Mcleod, Ph.D., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years experience of working in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Learn about our The cerebellum, which stands for ‘little brain’, is a Although the cerebellum only accounts for 10% of the overall brain mass, it contains over half of the nerve cells than the rest of the brain combined. The cerebellum is also one of the few mammalian brain structures where adult The cerebellum is an older part of the brain, also found in animals. It is even believed that the cerebellum was present in animals which existed before humans, according to scientists. Where Is It Located? The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain, behind the brainstem, below the temporal and The cerebellum is also divided into two hemispheres, like the cerebral cortex. Unlike the cerebral hemispheres, each hemispheres of the cerebellum is associated with each side of the body. The cerebellum consists of a cortex, which is the outer layer, containing folder brain tissue, filled with most of the cerebellum’s neurons. There is also a fluid filled ventricle and cerebellar nuclei, which is the innermost part, containing Within the cerebellum, there are thought to be three anatomical lobes which are dividied by two fissures (large furrows)– the primary fissure and the posterolat...