Cerebellar Pathways and Motor Learning

Question 1

what is the function of the cerebellum

Answer 1

compares motor plan to movement that occurred

Question 2

the cerebellum receives input from the cortex via which brain structure
what type of information does the cortex send to this brain strucutre
what pathway does this information travel along

Answer 2

pons
the motor plan (what movement is intended)
corticopontocerebellar

Question 3

the cerebellum recieves what type of input from the peripheries
what pathway does this information travel along

Answer 3

position sense input (what movement happened)
spinocerebellar

Question 4

how does the cerebellum send out movement modification information
what pathway does this information travel along

Answer 4

cerebellum sends out sensory feedback to the cortex to correct the movement
cerebellothalamocortical pathway

Question 5

where does the corticopontocerebellar pathway originate
from the origin, information is send to the ___ via the ____ fibres
where does the 1st order neuron synapse with a 2nd order neuron

Answer 5

cerebral cortex
in the pons via the corticopontine fibres
in the pons at the pontine mossy fibres

Question 6

in the corticopontocerebellar pathway, the pontine mossy fibres travel to the ___ via which structure
where does the 2nd order synapse with a 3rd order neuron
the purkinje fibres synapse on what

Answer 6

cerebellum via the middle cerebral penduncle
synpase on purkinje fibres
deep cerebellar nuclei

Question 7

the somatotopic representation in the deep cerebellar nuceli is ___
where are fastigial nuclei found

Answer 7

ipsilateral (R = R side of body)
in the spinocerebellum

Question 8

what movements do fastigial nuclei control
what movements do interposed and dentate nuclei control

Answer 8

head, trunk, proximal limb movements, posture, gait and eye movements
progressively more distal limb movements ipsilaterally, multi-joint limb movements (ex. reaching outside base of support, playing the piano)

Question 9

where are the receptors for spinocerebellar pathways
what type of information does the spinocerebellar pathway relay

Answer 9

in the periphery in muscle spindles or GTOs
non-conscious proprioception

Question 10

where are the cell bodies for 1st order neurons in the spinocerebellar pathway
T or F: there are third order neurons in the spinocerebellar pathway
list the 4 differences among the 4 spinocerebellar pathways

Answer 10

DRG
F
whether or not it decussates, location of 2nd order neuron, receptor types, which peduncle the information enters into the cerebellum

Question 11

the lower extremities send information via what two spinocerebellar pathways
the upper extremities send information via what two spinocerebellar pathways

Answer 11

dorsal spinocerebellar (uncrossed), ventral spinocerebellar (crossed)
cuneocerebellar (uncrossed), rostral spinocerebellar (uncrossed)

Question 12

explain the path the 1st order neuron in the dorsal spinocerebellar tract takes
explain the path the 2nd order neuron takes

Answer 12

from GTOs and spindles in legs to spinal cord, travels up spinal segments and terminated on the dorsal horn
originates on ipsilateral dorsal horn, travels to spinal cord via the dorsal/posterior spinocerebellar tract to the medulla, enters cerebellum via inferior peduncle

Question 13

explain the path the 1st order neuron in the ventral spinocerebellar tract takes
explain the path the 2nd order neuron takes

Answer 13

from GTOs to ipsilateral dorsal horn
from ipsilateral dorsal horn, decussates and travels up spinal cord and through the medulla as the ventral spinocerebellar tract then decussates again as it leaves the pons and enters the cerebellum via the superior peduncle

Question 14

explain the path the 1st order neuron in the cuneocerebellar tract takes
explain the path the 2nd order neuron takes

Answer 14

from spindles and GTOs to dorsal horn and travels up the spinal cord ipsilaterally to the medulla along the cuneate fasciculus tract
from medulla in the accessory cuneate nucleus, enters ipsilateral cerebellum via the inferior peduncle

Question 15

explain the path the 1st order neuron in the rostral spinocerebellar tract takes
explain the path the 2nd order neuron takes

Answer 15

from GTOs to ipsilateral dorsal horn
from ipsilateral dorsal horn, travels ipsilaterally along spinal cord to medulla and enters cerebellum via the inferior peduncle

Question 16

where does the cerebellothalamocortical pathway originate
where is the second order neuron in this pathway
where is the third order neuron in this pathway

Answer 16

in purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex
deep cerebellar nuclei
thalamus

Question 17

the third order neuron in the cerebellothalamocortical pathway travels to the thalamus via what structure
where does the information travel after it reaches the thalamus

Answer 17

superior peduncle
the motor and premotor cortices

Question 18

what type of information does the corticopontocerebellar and spinocerebellar pathway bring to the cerebellum
what type of information does the cerebellothalamocortical pathways bring to the cortex

Answer 18

cortico: motor plan information
spino: information about what movement actually occured
cerebello: movement correction information