Cerebellum

Question 1

Cerebellum function in motor control

Answer 1

Important for the ‘ checks and balances’ to help the spinal cord function.

dealing with the perturbations. Outside forces that change the balance settings between agonist and antagonist. Addition needed to have smooth motor control

Question 2

Subcortical-cortical loop

Answer 2

Loop needed to give feedback to make flowing motions possible

• Fine tunes movement ( which why in lesions you show ataxia (clumsy))
• TIming of automated movement sequences, motor memory

Question 3

EMG activation pattern

Answer 3

Normally: The agonist starts the movement and a bit later the antagonist activates.

Cerebellar patients: The agonist activates but overshoots, the antagonist activates but too late. Recurrent bumps of activation to try and rebalance it

Question 4

Motor cortex colloraty discharge

Answer 4

Signal is sent to spinal cord and simultaneously to cerebellum, which conveys information about current position, comparing the motor program to the proprioceptive information and modify if needed.

Question 5

Cerebellum anatomy

Answer 5

Spinocerebellum (middle part), needed for balance, walking. Mostly affected by alcohol

Neocerebellum (side parts), needed for motor planning and controlling, fingers to nose test and speech

Vestibulocerebellum (under part), needed for coordination of eye movement with body movement. Mainly the vestibulo ocular reflex. Movement of head means your eyes have to adjust, inner ear part used as well (liquid in ear test)

Question 6

Cerebellar Ataxia

Answer 6

In neocerebellum, it creates an endpoint tremor. At the nose it goes wrong. Also distorted speech (slurred)