Spinocerebellar and cerebellospinal pathways

Abstract

Although the cerebellum participates in many different functions, its coordinating role in learning and execution of movements remains its most visible aspect to our behavior. Multiple pathways convey information from the body to the cerebellum. These spinal pathways can be divided in systems that, either directly or indirectly, enter the cerebellar cortex to terminate as mossy fi bers and in pathways that reach the cerebellum by way of the inferior olive and as a consequence will terminate as climbing fi bers. Cerebellar processing is also mediated to the spinal cord by a multitude of routes. Corticospinal, rubrospinal, tectospinal, vestibulospinal and reticulospinal tracts may all, at least to some extent, be controlled by cerebellar output.