Functional Topography of the Human Cerebellum Revealed by Functional Neuroimaging Studies

Abstract

Functional imaging studies in healthy controls report cerebellar activation during a wide range of tasks, from motor execution (finger tapping, motor learning, smooth pursuit eye movements) to higher-level cognitive tasks (Tower of London, working memory paradigms, verbal fluency) in which motor responses are eliminated or controlled for. The anatomical connections between the cerebellum, the spinal cord, and sensorimotor and association areas of the cerebral cortex suggest a functional topography exists within the human cerebellum, such that different cerebellar regions are part of distributed spino-cerebellar and cerebro-cerebellar circuits. This topography is supported by data from human functional imaging studies, in which regional activation patterns differ for sensorimotor vs. cognitive and affective task paradigms. Here we review these neuroimaging data and consider both cross-task comparisons and within-task topography. We argue that cerebellar activation patterns are related to the specific demands of a given task, and the localization of the activation patterns reflects the engagement of different cerebro-cerebellar networks. Establishing cerebellar functional topography in humans has important implications for the interpretation of functional imaging data, the understanding of clinical outcomes in cerebellar damage or disease, and the broader understanding of the role of the cerebellum in motor and nonmotor functions.

Cerebellar EEG source localization reveals age‐related compensatory activity moderated by genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease

“…This model structure allows for the investigation of Age*APOE interaction terms in which the effect of Age on Source is dependent on APOE ε4 group. Cerebellar regions were investigated bilaterally due to evidence of involvement of both hemispheres in cognitive functions (Schmahmann et al, 2019;Stoodley et al, 2012Stoodley et al, , 2021Stoodley & Schmahmann, 2009) and substantial evidence of bilaterality with older age (Bernard & Seidler, 2012;Cabeza, 2002;Carp et al, 2011;Naccarato et al, 2006;Reuter-Lorenz & Park, 2014).…”

“…However, executive functioning importantly relies on not just frontal lobe function but on effective communication between the frontal lobes and regions of the posterior cerebellum (Bellebaum & Daum, 2007;Schmahmann, 2019;Stoodley et al, 2012;Stoodley & Schmahmann, 2009). Although less is known about inhibitory control specifically, executive functions, in general, rely specifically on activity in cerebellar crus I, crus II, and lobule VIIb (Clark et al, 2020;Schmahmann et al, 2019;Stoodley et al, 2012Stoodley et al, , 2021Stoodley & Schmahmann, 2009). Structural and functional studies show that these regions selectively communicate with areas of the prefrontal, parietal, cingulate, and parahippocampal cortices involved in complex, higher-order cognitive processes (Clark et al, 2020;Jacobs et al, 2018;Schmahmann et al, 2019;Stoodley et al, 2021).…”

The role of the cerebellum in internet gaming disorder—A systematic review

“…Interestingly, posterior cerebellar regions, albeit in the right hemisphere, were key regions for discriminating between HC and IGD based on activity patterns associated with processing of addiction‐related cues 41 . These findings are particularly interesting in light of a functional cerebellar topography in which lateral and posterior regions are recruited for complex motor and cognitive/nonmotor functions 43 . More recent evidence points to multiple motor and nonmotor cerebellar representations: a first sensorimotor representation located in anterior regions (lobules I–VI), two nonmotor representations in reverse orientation that converge around the Crus I/II border, a second sensorimotor representation in lobule VIII and a third nonmotor representation in the inferior cerebellum (lobules IX–X) (for a review, see Stoodley et al 43 ).…”

“…These findings are particularly interesting in light of a functional cerebellar topography in which lateral and posterior regions are recruited for complex motor and cognitive/nonmotor functions 43 . More recent evidence points to multiple motor and nonmotor cerebellar representations: a first sensorimotor representation located in anterior regions (lobules I–VI), two nonmotor representations in reverse orientation that converge around the Crus I/II border, a second sensorimotor representation in lobule VIII and a third nonmotor representation in the inferior cerebellum (lobules IX–X) (for a review, see Stoodley et al 43 ). Functional gradients (e.g., from more concrete to more abstract) appear to be preserved even within these representations.…”

“…41 These findings are particularly interesting in light of a functional cerebellar topography in which lateral and posterior regions are recruited for complex motor and cognitive/nonmotor functions. 43 Functional gradients (e.g., from more concrete to more abstract) appear to be preserved even within these representations.…”