Anatomy of Cerebro-cerebellar Circuits in Motor Control

Abstract

Cerebral cortex and cerebellum are intimately connected enabling them to perform their functions in learning, controlling and executing our daily movements. This review aims to provide a summary of both the cortico-cerebellar as well as of the cerebello-cortical routes that are used in their interaction. As such, this review will mostly concentrate on connections that are involved in motor control. Several characteristics of these routes will be accentuated as, for instance, the cortico-cerebellar route involves the cerebellar mossy fiber afferent pathway as well as the climbing fiber pathway, whereas the thalamus seems to be the main output station supplying cerebellar output to the cortex. In addition, the integration of the basal ganglia within the cerebral cortico-cerebellar connections will be highlighted. Modern tracing techniques furthermore supply information on the complex converging and diverging aspects that link the essentially different topical organizations of the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum underscoring the intricate and multifaceted network characteristics of the cerebro-cerebellar system in motor control.