Cerebellum

The cerebellum is a brain region believed to be important for a number of motor and cognitive functions, including learning. It is found at the bottom rear of the head (the hindbrain), directly above the brainstem. Patients with cerebellar dysfunction have problems with precise movements, such as walking and balance, and hand and arm movements. Recent fMRI studies suggest that the cerebellum is also important for attention and time perception. The cerebellum may also play a role in disorders such as dyslexia and autism. The cerebellum looks similar in all animals, from fish to mice to humans. This has been taken as evidence that it performs a common function, such as regulating motor learning and the timing of movements, in all animals. Studies of simple forms of motor learning in the vestibulo-ocular reflex and eyeblink conditioning are demonstrating that timing and amplitude of learned movements are encoded by the cerebellum.

External links

• A list of laboratories that do research on the cerebellum, around the world.