The human cerebellum contains most of the brain’s neurons, has a similar cortex area as the cerebrum, and has expanded over evolution. Despite this, the cerebellum has been classically investigated and valued for its role in movement control. However, novel tools, including functional imaging, connectivity, neuromodulation and neurodegeneration studies are mounting evidence of its role in cognition, mood, reward, decision making and addiction.
The purpose of this Topic is to broaden our understanding of the cerebellum’s roles in the brain function as well as of the networks and mechanisms underlying these roles. Recent advances in tract tracing have expanded our understanding of the cerebellum’s connections to the rest of the brain. As well, advances in neuromodulation have enabled us to test the cerebellum’s role in different behaviors implicated from previous imaging and clinical studies, and advances in gene expression analysis have increased our appreciation of the complexity and heterogeneity of the cerebellum, despite its repeating circuitry.
This Research Topic aims to broaden our understanding of the role of the cerebellum in the numerous brain functions and in disease conditions (e.g. anxiety, cognitive inflexibility, depression, disinhibition, impulsivity). Combining novel approaches with clinical and imaging research will deepen our understanding of the importance of the cerebellum in brain function and dysfunction and open new exciting avenues for potential clinical intervention in many disease conditions. As such, we welcome contributions related to the various roles of the cerebellum and their neurobiological underpinnings, including, but not limited to:
- investigations of the anatomy of the cerebellum and its connection
- neuroimaging studies, and manipulation of cerebellar activity/function, including using cerebellar disease
- pharmacological approaches
- opto/chemo-genetics and circuit manipulation of afferent and efferent connections
- electrophysiological studies
- computational modelling with a mix of experimental/theory studies
The human cerebellum contains most of the brain’s neurons, has a similar cortex area as the cerebrum, and has expanded over evolution. Despite this, the cerebellum has been classically investigated and valued for its role in movement control. However, novel tools, including functional imaging, connectivity, neuromodulation and neurodegeneration studies are mounting evidence of its role in cognition, mood, reward, decision making and addiction.
The purpose of this Topic is to broaden our understanding of the cerebellum’s roles in the brain function as well as of the networks and mechanisms underlying these roles. Recent advances in tract tracing have expanded our understanding of the cerebellum’s connections to the rest of the brain. As well, advances in neuromodulation have enabled us to test the cerebellum’s role in different behaviors implicated from previous imaging and clinical studies, and advances in gene expression analysis have increased our appreciation of the complexity and heterogeneity of the cerebellum, despite its repeating circuitry.
This Research Topic aims to broaden our understanding of the role of the cerebellum in the numerous brain functions and in disease conditions (e.g. anxiety, cognitive inflexibility, depression, disinhibition, impulsivity). Combining novel approaches with clinical and imaging research will deepen our understanding of the importance of the cerebellum in brain function and dysfunction and open new exciting avenues for potential clinical intervention in many disease conditions. As such, we welcome contributions related to the various roles of the cerebellum and their neurobiological underpinnings, including, but not limited to:
- investigations of the anatomy of the cerebellum and its connection
- neuroimaging studies, and manipulation of cerebellar activity/function, including using cerebellar disease
- pharmacological approaches
- opto/chemo-genetics and circuit manipulation of afferent and efferent connections
- electrophysiological studies
- computational modelling with a mix of experimental/theory studies
