Anatomical Location of the Vestibulocerebellar Tract in the Healthy Human Brain: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

Abstract

The vestibulocerebellar tract (VCT) is regarded as an important pathway of the central vestibular system. We identified the anatomical characteristics of the primary and secondary VCTs in a normal human brain using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography. Thirty-one healthy adults were recruited. A 1.5 T scanner was used for DTI tractography. A seed region of interest (ROI) was placed on the superior and medial vestibular nuclei at the pons level and a target ROI was placed on the uvula–nodulus of the cerebellum for reconstructing the primary VCT. In the secondary VCTs, the seed ROI was placed on the inferior and medial vestibular nuclei at the medulla oblongata level, and target ROIs were placed on the bilateral uvula–nodulus of the cerebellum. The primary VCT originated from the superior and medial vestibular nuclei at the pons level and terminated at the ipsilateral uvula–nodulus of the cerebellum. The component of the secondary VCTs originated from the inferior and medial vestibular nuclei at the level of the medulla oblongata and terminated at the bilateral uvula–nodulus of the cerebellum. Among them, 70.97% in the contralateral secondary VCT crossed at the vermis of the cerebellum. In addition, the fractional anisotropies (FAs) and mean diffusivity (MD) values of the primary VCT were significantly higher and lower, respectively, compared to those of the secondary VCTs (p < 0.05). The contralateral secondary VCT was significantly higher and lower in the MD and tract volume, respectively (p < 0.05), compared to the ipsilateral VCT. Therefore, we believe that the results will be useful for future studies of the vestibular projection pathway in the human brain injury aspect of central vestibular syndrome.

Vestibular-Evoked Cerebral Potentials

“…They found that these EPs of potential cerebellar origin were larger on the right side for bone conducted sounds ( 108 ), an observation not confirmed with stronger vestibular stimulation ( 41 ). Secondary vestibular fibers project bilaterally to the cerebellum in both animals and humans ( 17 , 192 , 193 ). However, unlike in humans, animal studies converge on larger contralateral responses to vestibular stimulation in the vermis and flocculus ( 194 ).…”

Injury of the Vestibulocerebellar Tract and Signs of Ataxia in Patients with Cerebellar Stroke

“…However, there is a lack of research comparing hand function using the Purdue pegboard test with the specific regions and neural pathways of cerebellum. The vestibulocerebellar tract (VCT) is a neural pathway that connects the vestibular nucleus to the uvula nodulus of the cerebellum, and is responsible for maintaining balance, spatial orientation, and coordination [21]. In general, the vestibular system detects changes in head position and movement, and controls static and dynamic balance based on vestibular sensory information [21,22].…”

“…The vestibulocerebellar tract (VCT) is a neural pathway that connects the vestibular nucleus to the uvula nodulus of the cerebellum, and is responsible for maintaining balance, spatial orientation, and coordination [21]. In general, the vestibular system detects changes in head position and movement, and controls static and dynamic balance based on vestibular sensory information [21,22]. Damage to the vestibular system is accompanied by an impairment of the sense of position and movement, and symptoms of balance disorder or ataxia [23][24][25].…”