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Neurophysiology > Cerebellum > Flashcards

Cerebellum Flashcards

1
Q

The cerebellum contains what percentage of all neurons in the brain?

A

50%

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2
Q

What percentage of brain volume does the cerebellum occupy?

A

10%

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3
Q

Does the cerebellum receive more inputs or outputs from axonal projections and to what degree?

A

40 times more inputs than outputs

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4
Q

What three tissue types is the cerebellum composed of?

A

Grey matter on the outside
White matter on the inside
Deep nuclei

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5
Q

What are the three major functional roles of the cerebellum?

A

Coordination of movement
Maintenance of equilibrium
Regulation of muscle tone

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6
Q

With which system does the cerebellum cooperate with to maintain equilibrium?

A

Vestibular system

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7
Q

How does the cerebellum modulate muscle activation to coordinate movement?

A

Via timing and pattern of muscle activation

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8
Q

What is the primary function of the cerebellum?

A

Ensure coordinated movement and detect the ‘error’ between intended and actual movement

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9
Q

How does the cerebellum influence movement via motor neurons?

A

Modifies activity patterns in upper motor neurons

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10
Q

The cerebellum project to the cortex via which brain structure/nucleus?

A

Thalamus - ventral lateral nucleus

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11
Q

What are the three lobes of the cerebellum?

A

Anterior
Posterior
Flocculonodular

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12
Q

What is the cerebellar cortex composed of in structure? How does it increase its surface area?

A

Surface grey matter with sulci and folia

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13
Q

Where is white matter found in the cerebellum?

A

Internally

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14
Q

Where are the cerebellar nuclei located?

A

Within the white matter

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15
Q

How many pairs of cerebellar nuclei are there?

A

3

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16
Q

What are the three pairs of cerebellar nuclei?

A

Fastigial
Interposed
Dentate

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17
Q

What are the three major regions of the cerebellar cortex?

A

Cerebrocerebellum
Spinocerebellum
Vestibulocerebellum

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18
Q

What are the 3 functional divisions of the cerebellum and their inputs?

A

Cerebrocerebellum - sensory and somatosensory inputs from spinal cord, control limb movements

Spinocerebellum - inputs from cortex, motor planning and coordination

Vestibulocerebellum - input from vestibular system, posture and balance

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19
Q

Which functional division is the only one to received direct input from spinal cord?

A

Spinocerebellum

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20
Q

What is the lateral part of the spinocerebellum important for in regards to movement?

A

Gross movement of distal muscles

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21
Q

What is the vermis aspect of the spinocerebellum important for?

A

Movement of proximal muscles

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22
Q

Where are topographic maps maintained in the cerebellum?

A

Spinocerebellum

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23
Q

Where do the inputs for the cerebrocerebellum originate?

A

Cerebral cortex

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24
Q

What is the cerebrocerebellum involved in, in regards to movement?

A

Motor planning and coordination, regulation of highly skilled movements

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25
Q

What group of animals has a highly developed cerebrocerebellum?

A

Primates

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26
Q

Which part of the cerebellum is the oldest, evolutionarily?

A

Vestibulocerebellum

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27
Q

Which part of the cerebellum houses the vestibulocerebellum?

A

Flocculonodular lobe

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28
Q

Where is the flocculonodular lobe/vestibulocerebellum found?

A

Caudal lobes of the cerebellum

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29
Q

Where do the inputs for the vestibulocerebellum originate?

A

Vestibular nuclei in the brainstem

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30
Q

What does the vestibulocerebellum regulate?

A

Movements underlying posture and equilibrium

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31
Q

How many cerebellar peduncles are there?

A

Three - superior, middle and inferior

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32
Q

Where do the efferent that leave the superior cerebellar peduncle project to?

A

Efferents to thalamus

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33
Q

What afferents arrive into the cerebellum via the middle cerebellar peduncle?

A

Corticopontocerebellar afferents

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34
Q

What afferents and efferents arrive/leave the cerebellum via the inferior cerebellar peduncle?

A

Spinocerebellar afferents/efferents

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35
Q

Where do cortical projections to the cerebellum mainly originate from?

A

Primary and association sensory cortices of parietal lobe

Motor and premotor cortices of the frontal lobe

Secondary visual regions

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36
Q

Inputs from frontal/parietal cortices arriving through the middle cerebellar peduncle are projected via which nuclei in the brain stem?

A

Pontine nuclei

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37
Q

Inputs from the frontal/parietal cortices that travel through the pontine nuclei will enter the cerebellum via which peduncle?

A

Middle cerebellar peduncle

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38
Q

The inputs from the frontal/parietal cortices that arrive through the inferior cerebellar peduncle are projected through which two nuclei?

A

Red nucleus and inferior olive

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39
Q

Frontal/parietal cortex projections into the cerebellum that pass through the red nucleus and inferior olive will enter the cerebellum via which peduncle?

A

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

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40
Q

Direct inputs from the spinal cord and vestibular nuclei enter via which cerebellar peduncle?

A

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

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41
Q

Which inputs arrive in the cerebellum directly via the inferior cerebellar peduncle (do not project through other nuclei)?

A

Spinal cord and vestibular nuclei

42
Q

What are the two kinds of projections that occur FROM the cerebellum?

A

From cerebellar cortex to deep cerebellar nuclei

From deep cerebellar nuclei to upper motor neurons of cortex (via thalamus)

43
Q

Where do the cerebellar outputs relay information to when sending signals from deep cerebellar nuclei to the upper motor neurons?

A

Thalamus

44
Q

Where does the one direct projection from the vestibulocerebellum project to?

A

Vestibular nuclei

45
Q

What are the 4 branches of cerebellar output?

A

Fastigial
Interposed
Dentate
Vestibular nuclei

46
Q

What does the fastigial output project to?

A

Medial descending systems

47
Q

What does the interposed output project to?

A

Lateral descending systems

48
Q

Which cerebellar output projects to medial descending systems?

A

Fastigial

49
Q

Which cerebellar output projects to lateral descending systems?

A

Interposed

50
Q

Which two cerebellar outputs control motor execution?

A

Interposed and fastigial

51
Q

Where does the dentate cerebellar output project to?

A

Areas 4 and 6

52
Q

What part of motor movement does the dentate output control?

A

Motor planning

53
Q

What part of motor movement do the fastigial and interposed cerebellar outputs control?

A

Motor execution

54
Q

What cerebellar output controls motor planning?

A

Dentate

55
Q

Which part of motor movement does the vestibular nuclei control?

A

Balance and eye movements

56
Q

Which cerebellar output controls balance and eye movement?

A

Vestibular nuclei

57
Q

What are the three layers of the cerebellar cortex?

A

Molecular
Purkinje cell
Granule cell

58
Q

Molecular, purkinje cell, and granule cell layers are layers of which cerebellar structure?

A

Cerebellar cortex

59
Q

The molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex is primarily made up of what cellular structure?

A

Large dendritic trees

60
Q

Which cerebellar cortex layer has large dendritic trees?

A

Molecular layer

61
Q

Which cerebellar cortex layer houses neuron cell bodies?

A

Purkinje cell layer

62
Q

What does the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellar cortex house?

A

Purkinje neuron cell bodies

63
Q

What does the granule cell layer of the cerebellar cortex contain?

A

Climbing fibers, mossy fibers, and granule cells

64
Q

Which cerebellar cortex layer has climbing fibers, mossy fibers, and granule cells?

A

Granule cell layer

65
Q

Which fibers provide excitatory input to granule cells?

A

Mossy fibers

66
Q

Mossy fibers provide excitatory input to what cell type?

A

Granule cells

67
Q

What do climbing fibers and granule cells create together?

A

Feed forward circuits

68
Q

Are climbing fibres, mossy fibres, and granule cells excitatory or inhibitory?

A

Excitatory

69
Q

Are Purkinje neurons excitatory or inhibitory?

A

Inhibitory

70
Q

Where do mossy fibres originate from?

A

Pontine nuclei, spinal cord, vestibular system

71
Q

Where do climbing fibers originate from?

A

Inferior olive

72
Q

Where do Purkinje neurons send signals to?

A

Deep cerebellar nuclei

73
Q

What do Purkinje neurons do in relation to movement?

A

Inhibit movement

74
Q

What information regarding movement do mossy fibres transmit?

A

Sensory information

75
Q

What information regarding movement do climbing fibres transmit?

A

Motor planning information

76
Q

What neurotransmitter do Purkinje neurons release?

A

GABA

77
Q

How many synaptic connections do climbing fibres make?

A

Multiple with Purkinje cell

78
Q

How many synaptic contacts do Purkinje cells have?

A

One

79
Q

What are three other cell types found in the cerebellar cortex?

A

Stellate
Basket
Golgi

80
Q

Are stellate cells excitatory or inhibitory?

A

Inhibitory

81
Q

Are basket cells excitatory or inhibitory?

A

Inhibitory

82
Q

Are Golgi cells excitatory or inhibitory?

A

Inhibitory

83
Q

What postsynaptic potential is generated in Purkinje cells due to climbing fibres?

A

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials

84
Q

Are parallel fibres inhibitory or excitatory?

A

Excitatory

85
Q

Which neurotransmitter do parallel fibres transmit?

A

Glutamate

86
Q

Which neurotransmitter do climbing fibres transmit?

A

Aspartate

87
Q

What cellular response follows parallel fibre synapse?

A

mGluR receptors activated increasing IP3 and DAG concentrations (leading to increased calcium)

88
Q

What cellular response follows climbing fibre synapse?

A

Increase in calcium

89
Q

Which two fibres in the cerebellar cortex activate at approximately the same time?

A

Parallel and climbing fibres

90
Q

What effect does dual activation of parallel and climbing fibres have on Purkinje cells?

A

Long term depression

Increase in calcium activates PKC which internalises AMPA receptors, fewer AMPA receptors are available and smaller EPSPs are evoked, causing less Purkinje activation

91
Q

Which fibre relays motor error to Purkinje cells?

A

Climbing fibres

92
Q

How does long term depression assist in motor learning?

A

Climbing and parallel fibres synapse at the same time causing a long term depression due to the internalisation of AMPA receptors. Next time movement is performed, appropiate Purkinje cell output to deep cerebellar nuclei occurs

93
Q

What is the potential role of Golgi cells?

A

May limit duration of granule cell input to Purkinje cells via modulation of climbing fibre input

94
Q

What functional role do basket cells have?

A

Provide lateral inhibition that could focus on spatial distribution of Purkinje cell activity

95
Q

What condition and symptoms can a lesion in the cerebellum cause?

A

Ataxia - uncoordinated and inaccurate movements

96
Q

How does alcohol impact cerebellar circuits?

A

Increased GABAergic inhibition of granule cells causes excess GABA output - slows movement and makes you clumsy

97
Q

What is Freidreich’s ataxia?

A

A rare hereditary neurodegenerative movement disorder that affects the cerebellum

98
Q

What is the inheritance pattern for Freidreich’s ataxia?

A

Autosomal recessive

99
Q

Which protein is mutated in Freidreich’s ataxia?

A

Frataxin

100
Q

What is the cellular function of the protein frataxin?

A

It is a mitochondrial protein involved in iron metabolism - needed for respiratory chain function

101
Q

What does mutated frataxin result in?

A

Oxidative stress and cerebellar atrophy

Neurophysiology (5 decks)

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