Cerebellum Motor Learning Flashcards
What are cerebellohypothalamic fibers?
cerebellar nuclei sending crossed projection to the hypothalamus
Via which peduncle does the cerebellohypothalamic fibers send?
superior cerebellar peduncle
through the cerebellum and hypothalamic connections, the cerebellum might receive what input?
visceral input and influence neurons that control visceral functions
What are some visceral deficits that are seen with cerebellar damage? (remember these often go unreported because the somatomotor deficits are greater)
- decrease in heart rate and BP
- changes in vascular resistance
- changes in pupil diameter
It is often difficult to separate the effects of cerebellar dysfunction on motor learning to what other function?
those related to motor performance
The effects of cerebellar dysfunction are somewhat dependent on what?
the type of behavior being learned
What different aspects of the learning process of motor behaviors is the cerebellum involved in?
acquisition
consolidation
memory storage of movement patterns
What two relatively simple reflexive motor behaviors does the cerebellum play a role in?
- Adaptation of the vestibule-ocular reflex
- Classical (Pavlovian) conditioning of reflexes evoked by aversive stimuli (such as eye blink and withdrawal reflexes)
What activity does the cerebellum play a role in MORE than reflexive motor behaviors?
learning of voluntary, complex motor skills
Can new motor skills be learned with cerebellar dysfunction?
yes!
cerebellar dysfunction results in what symptoms pertaining to motor learning?
- a decrease in the quality & consistency of the learned behaviors
- a slowing of the rate of motor learning
What is active when first learning to perform the task correctly and consistently on successive trials?
cerebellar nuclei
When are cerebellar nuclei less active?
when there is an already learned movement or one where skill is already demonstrated
Patient’s with cerebellar damage can often reproduce already learned skills, therefore there is little evidence of what?
that there is storage in the cerebellum of learned voluntary complex motor skills (that form of storage is likely in the supplementary motor cortex)
What is shown with cerebellar damage and learning?
long term suppression of learned adaptation of reflexes (such as VOR)
Archicerebellum aka?
vestibulocerebellum
What does the archicerebellum involve?
midline structures such as the flocculonodular lobe
What are the connections of the archicerebellum ?
through the fastigial nucleus
What is the archicerebellum highly connected with?
vestibular and reticular nuclei
What are the roles of the archicerebellum?
VOR
posture
balance
equilibrium
Paleocerebellum aka?
spinocerebellum
Where is the paleocerebellum?
intermediate cerebellum
vermis and paravermal areas
What are the connections through the paleocerebellum?
through both the fastigial and the interposed nuclei
paleocerebellum is highly connected with what?
spinal cord and the brainstem
What role does the paleocerebellum play?
involved in the coordination of reciprocal contraction of agonists and antagonists in motor activites
neurocerebellum aka
pontocerebellum
Where is the pontocerebellum?
most lateral component and includes the lateral cerebral hemispheres
What are the connections within the pontocerebellum?
through the dentate nucleus
What inputs does the pontocerebellum have?
from cerebral cortex
what are outputs from the pontocerebellum?
to the motor cortex via VA/VL thalamus and circuits back to the cerebellum via the inferior olivary nucleus
pontocerebellum functions?
coordination of sequential motor activities initiated by cerebral cortex
What does the cerebellum have to do with anticipatory programming?
it does anticipatory programming of agonist and antagonist to maintain posture and balance during rapid movements via outputs to vestibular nuclei and reticular formation
What is the comparative function of the cerebellum?
comparison of plan of movement(cerebral cortex) with the actual movement (feedback from spinocerebellar pathways) with correction if errors via outputs to cerebral cortex and red nucleus
More functions of the cerebellum? MPPIC
Movement precision
Preprogramming of ballistic movements
Planning and timing of complex sequential movements
Integration of visual & proprioceptive information to execute planned movements
Consolidation of motor memory but not storage
Possible functions of cerebellum include what?
- possible coordination of some visceral actions
- possible role in emotional and cognitive function
