Abstract
Cognitive processes involve precisely coordinated neuronal communications between multiple cerebral cortical structures in a task specific manner. Rich new evidence now implicates the cerebellum in cognitive functions. There is general agreement that cerebellar cognitive function involves interactions between the cerebellum and cerebral cortical association areas. Traditional views assume reciprocal interactions between one cerebellar and one cerebral cortical site, via closed-loop connections. We offer evidence supporting a new perspective that assigns the cerebellum the role of a coordinator of communication. We propose that the cerebellum participates in cognitive function by modulating the coherence of neuronal oscillations to optimize communications between multiple cortical structures in a task specific manner.
Highlights
Higher order brain functions, including cognitive processes, involve precisely coordinated neuronal communications between multiple cerebral cortical structures (e.g., Damasio, 1989; Vaadia et al, 1995; Mesulam, 1998; Ayzenshtat et al, 2010)
– We propose that the cerebellum encodes rhythms in the alpha/beta range that reflect the topographical pattern of gamma activation in the cerebral cortex and generates feedback to facilitate appropriate gamma-rhythmic synchronization in communicating neuronal groups
We propose that these findings, along with a trove of anatomical, physiological, and imaging evidence, supports the idea that the cerebellum plays a key role in the modulation of gamma coherence across different areas of the cerebral cortex
Summary
Edited by: Marija Cvetanovic, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, United States. Reviewed by: Guy Cheron, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium Richard Apps, University of Bristol, United Kingdom Martin Bares, Masaryk University, Czechia Peter Tsai, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States. Cognitive processes involve precisely coordinated neuronal communications between multiple cerebral cortical structures in a task specific manner. Rich new evidence implicates the cerebellum in cognitive functions. There is general agreement that cerebellar cognitive function involves interactions between the cerebellum and cerebral cortical association areas. We offer evidence supporting a new perspective that assigns the cerebellum the role of a coordinator of communication. We propose that the cerebellum participates in cognitive function by modulating the coherence of neuronal oscillations to optimize communications between multiple cortical structures in a task specific manner
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