Cerebellar Loops: A Review of the Nucleocortical Pathway

Abstract

Feedback pathways are a common circuit motif in vertebrate brains. Reciprocal interconnectivity is seen between the cerebral cortex and thalamus as well as between basal ganglia structures, for example. Here, we review the literature on the nucleocortical pathway, a feedback pathway from the cerebellar nuclei to the cerebellar cortex, which has been studied anatomically but has remained somewhat obscure. This review covers the work examining this pathway on a number of levels, ranging from its existence in numerous species, its organization within cerebellar circuits, its cellular composition, and a discussion of its potential roles in motor control. Recent interest in cerebellar modular organization raises the profile of this neglected cerebellar pathway, and it is hoped that this review will consolidate knowledge gained over several decades of research into a useful format, spurring new investigations into this evolutionarily conserved pathway.