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Neurophysiology > Cerebellum > Flashcards

Cerebellum Flashcards

1
Q

Sum up the cerebellum’s role in one sentence

A

Coordination, calibration, modulation, planning, learning and automating of skilled movements

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2
Q

How does the cerebellum calibrate movement

A

Compares motor command (cortex) with performance feedback (ascending proprioceptor/sensory input) to correct erorrs and make movement more successful

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3
Q

What are the 3 anatomical divisions of the cerebellum

A

Cerebrocerebellum, spinocerebellum, vestibulocerebellum

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4
Q

Which deep output nuclei does the spinocerebellum project to

A

Vermis -> Fastigial

Paravermis -> Interposed nuclei

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5
Q

Which deep output nuclei does the cerebrocerebellum project to

A

Dentate nucleus

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6
Q

What are the deep output nuclei of the cerebellum

A

Fastigial, interposed, dentate

Inside -> outside

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7
Q

What are the 3 major cerebellar tracts

A

Superior peduncle, middle peduncle, inferior peduncle

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8
Q

What is the superior penduncle

A

OUTPUT to thalamus and brainstem, comprises most output

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9
Q

What is the middle peduncle

A

INPUT from pons

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10
Q

What is the inferior peduncle

A

INPUT from vestibular nuclei, spine and inferior olive

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11
Q

How is the cerebellum unique to other motor areas in the brain in terms of how it works with the body

A

Works ipsilaterally with the body

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12
Q

What are the outer big sections of the cerebellum called

A

Lateral hemispheres

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13
Q

What other nuclei is important that’s not the deep nuclei

A

Vestibulo-cerebellum projects to the vestibular nuclei in the brainstem

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14
Q

What is the inner big section of the cerbellum comprised of the vermis and paravermis

A

Medial hemisphere

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15
Q

Where are each of the functional divisions of the cerebellum located

A

Spinocerebellum- medial hemisphere
Cerebrocerebellum- lateral hemispheres
Vestibulocerebellum- flocculonodular lobe

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16
Q

Input to the vestibulocerebellum

A

Direct sensory input from semicircular canals and otolith organs
Vestibular nuclei
Visual input from SC and visual cortex via the pons

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17
Q

Output from the vestibulocerebellum

A

Fastigial deep nucleus
Ocular motor nuclei
Medial/lateral vestibular nuclei -> Medial/lateral vestibulospinal tracts to neck and back muscles

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18
Q

Vestibulocerebellum functions

A

Balance and posture
Orientation of head and body
Eye movements
Vestibulo-ocular reflex

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19
Q

What is the vestibulo-ocular reflex

A

Maintains foveation of an object during head movements

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20
Q

Input to the cerebrocerebellum

A

Cortex -> pons -> dentate nucleus

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21
Q

Output from the cerebrocerebellum

A

From dentate nucleus-
Motor control areas and PFC via the ventrolateral thalamus
Red nucleus -> inferior olivary nucleus -> cerebellum

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22
Q

Functions of the cerebrocerebellum

A

Planning/timing/initiating precise movement
Feedback circuit to regulate cortical motor programs
Motor learning
Cognitive function

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23
Q

What is the function of the red nucleus -ION- cerebellar loop formed from from the cerebrocerbelleum

A

The red nucleus also receives input from premotor areas- loop may involve motor learning

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24
Q

How may the cerebrocerebellum be involved in cogntiive function

A

Dentate nucleus appears important in processing sensory info for tasks requiring spatial and temporal judgements

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25
Input to the spinocerebellum
Instruction from sensory and motor cortex Dorsal and ventral spinocerebellar tracts- neck. trunk, limbs Inferior olivary nuclei
26
How does the spinocerebellum receive direct vs indirect input from the dorsal and ventral spinocerebellar tracts
Direct input from interneurons in the spinal grey matter -> mossy fibres Indirect input via reticular formation nuclei
27
Output from the spinocerebellum- vermis
Via fastigial nuclei | Ventromedial brainstem descending systems- vestibulo, reticulo, and cortico-spina tracts VIA a thalamocortical relay
28
Output from the spinocerebellum- paravermis
Via interposed nuclei | Lateral descending systems- rubro and corticospinal tracts
29
Spinocerebellum functions
Control of axial and limb musculature for posture and locomotion, modulates descending motor systems through thalamocortical relay, online movement-correction, feed-forward control
30
How does the spinocerebellum do feedforward control
Can elaborate proprioceptive input to anticipate future body position during movement
31
What region of the spinocerebellum is involved in controlling eye movement together with the vertibulocerebellum
Vermis- controls saccades and smooth-pursuit eye movements
32
What info does the spinocerebellum receive from the dorsal vs ventral spinocerebellar tracts
Dorsal- sensory feedback from muscles following movement | Ventral- info about spinal motor neuron activity
33
How does the spinocerebellum do online correction of movement
Compares planned movement (from ventral spinocerebellar tract) with actual movement (dorsal cerebellar tract) to allow correction
34
What suggests there is a cognitive role for the cerebellum
Prefrontal connections Expansion of cerebellar hemispheres evolved in conjunction with cerebral expansion Cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome
35
Symptoms of cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome
Deficits in language, visual spatial and executive functions, disorganised through
36
What is the cerebellar outer cortex made up of
100 thousand million neurons (1/2 all neurons in the brain) in highly ordered repeating P-cell modules
37
What cells provide input to the P-cell modules
Mossy fibre input from all regions involved eg vestib, spinal, pons Climbing fibre input from IO
38
What are the 3 layers of the P-cell modules
Molecular layer, Purkinje cell layer, inner granule cell layer (OUT->IN)
39
What cells are in the molecular layer of the P cell module
Purkinje cell dendrites, granule cell parallel fibres, climbing fibres, various interneurons
40
What cells are in the Purkinje cell layer of the P cell module
Purkinje cells (principal output to deep nuclei)
41
What cells are in the inner granule cell layer of the P cell module
Granule cells, mossy fibre inputs, Golgi interneurons
42
Where are the cell bodies of mossy fibres
Spinal cord, brain stem
43
What synapses do mossy fibres form
EXCITATORY synapses on granule cell dendrites in the granular layer EXCITATORY direct synapses with target neurons in deep output nuclei
44
What is the neurotransmitter identity of granule cell parallel fibres in the outer molecular layer
Glutamatergic (EXCITATORY)
45
What input does each Purkinje cell receive from granule parallel fibres
Input from 200,000 parallel fibres firing at 50-100Hz | Input from ~200 summates
46
What sort of firing does input from summated granule parallel fibres elicit in Purkinje cells
Simple Na/K spikes (20-50Hz)
47
What modulates the frequency of simple spikes in Purkinje cells (caused by parallel granule fibres)
Sensory and motor inputs eg muscle spindles, visual input
48
How are P specific in their firing
P cells are tuned to particular source/type of input | Project topographically onto the body map in the deep output nuclei
49
What output do Purkinje cells provide
Inhibitory output to deep output nuclei
50
What does Purkinje inhibitory output to the deep output nuclei allow
Online calibration and optimisation of movement by correcting motor errors
51
What is the result of the long trajectory of granule cell parallel fibres
Allows them to contact many P cells that project along the anterior-posterior body axis in the deep output nuclei map, allowing coordinated multi-muscle movement
52
What info does the inferior olivary nuclei receive
Info from the spinal cord and cerebral cortex
53
What synapses do the climbing fibres form
Each climbing fibre winds through the dendritic tree of a Purkinje fibre, making around 300 synapses 1:1 ratio Climbing fibre collaterals also excite the deep nuclei
54
What firing does APs from climbing fibres elicit in Purkinje fibres
A single AP from CFs (1-10Hz) generates a large EPSP, causing prolonged Ca2+ dependent complex spike in Purkinje fibres
55
What is the result of prolonged Ca2+ dependent complex spikes caused by climbing fibre input in P cells
LTD of parallel fibre- Purkinje cell synapses, reducing the efficacy of mossy fibre inputs
56
In what way do climbing fibres map onto Purkinje fibres
Climbing fibre terminals are arranged in a way that maintains IO topography on Purkinje fibres
57
What is the role of climbing fibres
Report 'error' to P cells (discrepancy between cerebellar motor command and sensory detection), and 'teach' Purkinje cells which parallel fibres they should become less responsive to
58
How many granule cels are in the granule cell layer
10 ^11
59
How many Purkinje cells are in the Purkinje cell layer
3 X 10^7
60
How many complex spikes does each sensory stimuli/movement generate in P cells
Only 1-2 complex spikes
61
What do climbing fibres allow BIG PICTURE
Cerebellum-dependent motor learning, recalibration and optimisation of movement
62
What 3 types of interneurons exist in the P modules
Basket cells, stellate cells, golgi cells
63
What input do cerebellar interneurons receive
Excitatory granule cell parallel fibre input
64
What do basket interneurons do
Project to neighbouring P cells forming a basket, inhibiting activity in 'off-beam' P cells LATERAL INHIBITION
65
What do stellate interneurons do
Short-range within-beam inhibition of P cells. regulatory effect
66
What do Golgi interneurons do
Project back to granule cells and provide feedback inhibition, curtailing duration of excitement of GCs by mossy fibres
67
What is hypotonia
Diminished resistant to passive limb displacements
68
What is atasia
Loss of ability to maintain steady limb/body postrue across multiple joints
69
What is abasia
Loss of ability to maintain upright stance against gravity, often moving their legs irregularly and falling
70
What is ataxia
Abnormal execution of multi-jointed movements, lack of coordination
71
What characterises cerebellar disorders
Loss of automatic, unconscious nature of most movements, especially consisting of sequential movements
72
How do cerebellar lesinos affect the vestibular-ocular reflex
Inability to learn to reverse the VOR is caused by vestibulocerebellar lesions
73
What happens to the frequency of simple and complex spikes when first learning a new task
Learning a new task- increased frequency of complex spikes, gradual decrease in simple spikes
74
What happens to the frequency of simple and complex spikes when a task has been learned
Frequency of complex spikes returns to control, frequency of simple spikes remains decreased
75
What is dysmetria
Poor accuracy of movement
76
What is tremor
Low frequency high amplitude oscillations of a limb as it approaches target, overshooting/overcompensated
77
What is dysdiadochokinesis
Poor rapid alternating movements
78
What is postural ataxia
Incoordination of axial muscles, postural instability, staggering wide-based ataxic gait
79
What do vestibulocerebellar lesions cause
Poor balance, nystagmus (eye drift and jump)
80
What do spinocerebellar lesions cause
Lesions of medial zone- problems standing or walking | Lesions of intermediate zone- poor accuracy, action tremor (3-5Hz)
81
What do cerebrocerebellar lesions cause
Disrupts multijoint movements eg reaching and grasping objects
82
What does firing of climbing fibres correspond with
When stimulated, they fire single APs in temporal relation with specific sensory events- suggests they signal important events
83
What does firing of Purkinje fibres
Fire at up to several hundred spikes a sec during active eye, arm and face movements, due to lots of sensory info converging on the granule cells Mossy fibre system thus encodes magnitude and direction of peripheral stimuli
84
Recurrent loops- thalamocortical loop?
Cerebral cortex->pons->lateral cerebellum->thalamus->cerebral cortex
85
Recurretnt loops- self-regulating loops
Deep cerebellar nuclei project GABAergic inhibitory neurons to the inferior olive, allowing the cerebellum to regulate its climbing fibre input
86
What are interal models
Interal models of the limbs within the cerebellum automatically take account of limb structure eg a dynamic arm model can convert a desired endpoint into a sequnce of commnds Can be modulated

Neurophysiology (23 decks)

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