Cerebellar information processing and visuospatial functions

Abstract

Although there are consistent reports of altered visuospatial abilities in subjects with cerebellar pathologies, and although experimental evidence indicates the importance of this part of the brain in spatial processing, the role of the cerebellum in this area remains elusive. In the present essay, experimental and clinical studies from our group, focussing relations between cerebellum and visuospatial functions are reviewed. Explorative behaviour, visuospatial abilities and sequential spatial processing functions are analyzed to focus cerebellar involvement in spatial data processing. Reviewed evidence enlightens the importance of the cerebellum for scanning sensory data to extract relevant spatial information and for the acquisition of spatial-related procedures. This hypothesis is discussed within the general framework of cerebellar involvement in cognition.Although there are consistent reports of altered visuospatial abilities in subjects with cerebellar pathologies, and although experimental evidence indicates the importance of this part of the brain in spatial processing, the role of the cerebellum in this area remains elusive. In the present essay, experimental and clinical studies from our group, focussing relations between cerebellum and visuospatial functions are reviewed. Explorative behaviour, visuospatial abilities and sequential spatial processing functions are analyzed to focus cerebellar involvement in spatial data processing. Reviewed evidence enlightens the importance of the cerebellum for scanning sensory data to extract relevant spatial information and for the acquisition of spatial-related procedures. This hypothesis is discussed within the general framework of cerebellar involvement in cognition