Behavioral disorders and cognitive impairment associated with cerebellar lesions

Abstract

In the last decade evidence has accumulated that suggests that the cerebellum is involved not only in motor but also in behavioral and cognitive functions. A myriad of anatomical, clinical and imaging studies support that assumption. The lengthened survival of patients with cerebellar tumors has also brought an increased awareness of neurocognitive deficits to the neurooncological community. Although evidence from neurosurgical case series exists that clearly demonstrates that patients afflicted from posterior fossa tumors are at high risk for long-term cognitive or adaptive deficits, there is still a lack of systematic translational review on this issue. Accordingly a systematic review was conducted to summarize the impact of cerebellar lesions on behavior and cognition. The findings and clinical implications are discussed in the light of the recent advances in neuroimaging techniques.