The cerebellum (from the Latin "little brain") is the dorsal portion of the metencephalon and is
located in the posterior cranial fossa. Although representing only 10% of the total brain volume, it
contains more than 50% of the total number of neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). Its
organization resembles the one found in the telencephalon, with the presence of a superficial mantle
of gray matter (GM) known as the cerebellar cortex, covering the cerebellar white matter (WM) in
which three pairs of deep cerebellar GM nuclei are embedded.
The number of studies dedicated to the study of the cerebellum and its function has significantly
increased during the last years. Nevertheless, although many theories on the cerebellar function
have been proposed, to date we still are not able to answer the question about the exact function of
this structure. Indeed, the classical theories focused on the role of the cerebellum in fine-tuning for
muscle control has been widely reconsidered during the last years, with new hypotheses that have
been advanced. These include its role as sensory acquisition device, extending beyond a pure role in
motor control and learning, as well as a pivotal role in cognition, with a recognized cerebellar
participation in a variety of cognitive functions, ranging from mood control to language, memory,
attention and spatial data management.
A huge contribution to our understanding of how the cerebellum participates in all these different
aspects of motor and non-motor behavior comes from the application of advanced imaging
techniques. In particular, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can provide a non-invasive
evaluation of anatomical integrity, as well as information about functional connections with other
brain regions.
This thesis is organized as follows:
- In Chapter 1 is presented a general introduction to the cerebellar anatomy and functions, with
particular reference to the anatomical organization of cerebellar cortex and its connections with the
telencephalon
- Chapter 2 will contain a general overview about some of the major advanced MRI methods that
can be applied to investigate the anatomical integrity and functional status of the cerebellar cortex
- In Chapter 3 will be presented a new method to evaluate the anatomy and integrity of cerebellar
cortex using ultra-high field MRI scanners
- Chapters 4, 5 and 6 will contain data obtained from the application of some of the previously
described advanced imaging techniques to the study of cerebellar cortex in neurodegenerative and
neuroinflammatory disorders affecting the CNS
