Influence of the cerebellum in anticipation and mental disorders

Abstract

The cerebellum is involved in motor coordination and motor learning. Cerebellar plasticity can serve as a cellular basis of learning. Data obtained from humans and animals led to the supposition that this structure could be a comparator and play a crucial role in sensory anticipation and online sensorimotor control. Internal models aid in executing motion precisely and harmoniously with or without external sensory feedback. The analogy between control of body part motion and manipulation of mental representation suggests the cerebellum’s possible involvement in non-motor mental functions. Moreover cerebellar-lesioned or mutant animals exhibit cognitive and emotional disturbances, especially high reactivity to environmental changes, behavioral disinhibition, and stereotyped behavior. All these results and theoretical approaches support the idea that the cerebellum and its role in anticipation could represent an interesting field of investigation in the pathophysiology and the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism.