How the cerebellum may monitor sensory information for spatial representation

Abstract

The cerebellum has already been shown to participate in the navigation function. We propose here that this structure is involved in maintaining a sense of direction and location during self-motion by monitoring sensory information and interacting with navigation circuits to update the mental representation of space. To better understand the processing performed by the cerebellum in the navigation function, we have reviewed: the anatomical pathways that convey self-motion information to the cerebellum; the computational algorithm(s) thought to be performed by the cerebellum from these multi-source inputs; the cerebellar outputs directed toward navigation circuits and the influence of self-motion information on space-modulated cells receiving cerebellar outputs. This review highlights that the cerebellum is adequately wired to combine the diversity of sensory signals to be monitored during self-motion and fuel the navigation circuits. The direct anatomical projections of the cerebellum toward the head-direction cell system and the parietal cortex make those structures possible relays of the cerebellum influence on the hippocampal spatial map. We describe computational models of the cerebellar function showing that the cerebellum can filter out the components of the sensory signals that are predictable, and provides a novelty output. We finally speculate that this novelty output is taken into account by the navigation structures, which implement an update over time of position and stabilize perception during navigation.

Restoring abnormal aftereffects of prismatic adaptation through neuromodulation

“…Also, suggestions have been made that the cerebellum may participate in monitoring sensory information for spatial representation (Rondi-Reig et al, 2014). In patient MM the unilateral cerebellar lesion may have brought about "a mismatch between the brain's modelled dynamics and the actual body dynamics, resulting in ataxia" (Bhanpuri et al, 2014), thus interfering with the spatial realignment process during PA, and resulting in the altered proprioceptive straight-ahead AEs.…”

Le codage de l’espace

“…influençant le code spatial, et quelles sont les autres structures participant au codage de l'espace ? Le cervelet, une structure anatomiquement câblée pour réaliser une prédiction sensorielle, pourrait jouer un rôle déterminant dans ces processus et dans le codage d'un signal de nouveauté [32]. En effet, une altération à l'échelle synaptique du cervelet altère le code spatial de l'hippocampe [33].…”

Cerebellar re-encoding of self-generated head movements

“…Vestibular signals are essential for stabilizing gaze (du Lac et al, 1995) and for computing head direction, spatial maps and navigation trajectories (Stackman et al, 2005; Yoder and Taube, 2014; Wallace et al, 2002; Klier and Angelaki, 2008; Rochefort et al, 2011; Rochefort et al, 2013; Rondi-Reig et al, 2014). These signals originate from two categories of skull-anchored inertial sensors: gyroscope-like structures (semi-circular canals), which transduce head angular velocity, and accelerometer-like structures (otolith organs), which are activated indifferently by accelerated linear motion and by gravity.…”