He cerebellum It is much more than a kind of younger brother to the neocortex, tucked half-hidden between the occipital lobe and the brain stem. In fact, this curious structure similar to a flattened ball of wool is one of the most important parts of the brain.
What’s more, it is considered that in most cases the proper functioning of the cerebellum is essential for us to survive and cases in which this norm is not met become news.
Although it is an apparently quite discrete structure because it is partly hidden by the cerebral cortex, The cerebellum is one of the areas of the brain with the highest density of neurons In fact, approximately half of the brain’s neurons are located in this structure. But… why is it so important that the cerebellum is in good condition? What processes are you in charge of?
It’s been years since the functioning of the cerebellum and the coordination of muscle activation have been related Thus, it was considered that the task of the cerebellum was, basically, to make it possible for us to maintain balance, to be able to coordinate simple and complex movements and, in general, for the muscles of our body to respond faithfully and effectively to the orders issued by the cerebellum. brain.
For example, it was considered that one of the main symptoms of alterations in the cerebellum is loss of balance after drinking too much alcohol. However, in recent years it has been discovered that the idea that the role of the cerebellum has to do with motor coordination is too simplistic. So, The cerebellum is not only involved in motor processes, but also plays an important role in many other functions
One of the connection pathways of the cerebellum connects this structure with large areas of the limbic system, which is related to the appearance and maintenance over time of the emotional states that color our experiences. By being in communication with structures such as the amygdala, the cerebellum has the ability to intervene in the regulation of emotional states that appear
Thus, for example, part of the functions of the cerebellum have to do with creating associations between sensations and feelings, which serves as support for future learning by relating certain experiences with specific feelings.
The cerebellum and cognitive processes
The fact that the cerebellum has such a density of neurons and that it is connected to large areas of the cerebral cortex makes the idea that it has something to do with cognitive processes such as memory or attention management not sound far-fetched. There is currently some research that points in that direction.
For example, it has been seen that the size of the cerebellum could be related to the level of intelligence one has Furthermore, from studies in which the effects that a lesion in the cerebellum has on the mental abilities of patients are observed, it has been possible to relate dysfunction in this structure with attention deficits and the use of language.
The complicated thing about investigating this is that from these studies based on cases of cerebellar injury it is not possible to know if the decrease in cognitive abilities is due to the fact that the neurons involved in them have died (being located in the area of the injury) or whether these effects are due to an imbalance in brain function caused by the injury. So that, much more research is needed to know if the role that the cerebellum plays in cognitive functions is as important as these studies seem to suggest.
Old ideas about the role of the cerebellum as a coordination center for muscle activation have not been refuted. Today it is still considered that this structure has a leading role in the coordination of movements, maintenance of balance and monitoring of neuronal signals aimed at activating muscles.
As the cerebellum is connected to many areas of the brain, it crosses the motor information prepared in the higher regions of the brain with the more “concrete” and operational motor information aimed at activating muscle fibers, and checks that there are no inconsistencies between the two. Besides, There is a debate generated around the possibility that one of the functions of the cerebellum is motor learning that is, the ability to refine a pattern of movements so that it becomes increasingly perfect.
Structure of the cerebellum
The cerebellum may be relatively small, but its composition is very complex Although we can talk at length about the different parts and subdivisions of the parts of the cerebellum, on this occasion we will focus only on the broadest categorization of the structures of the cerebellum, that is, the parts that can be seen with the naked eye with the naked eye. ease (as long as you have a brain in front of you, of course).
The hemispheres of the cerebellum
The cerebellum is similar to the rest of the brain in that it is also covered by a layer of cells that create a rough, folded surface. Although, yes, in the case of the cerebellum these folds are even tighter and finer, as can be seen with the naked eye. That is why One of the structures or subregions of the cerebellum is known as the cerebellar cortex
The cerebellar cortex is divided into two cerebellar hemispheres, in the same way that the cerebral cortex is divided into a right and a left hemisphere. In the middle of these hemispheres is a region called vermis which is a vertical strip that joins both parts and connects them to each other.
The lobes of the cerebellum
Beyond this classification of parts of the cerebellar cortex, there are several lobes of the cerebellum, in the same way that each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex is divided into lobes of the cerebrum. These lobes are the anterior lobe, the posterior lobe, and the flocculonodular lobe, arranged from top to bottom.
