The paleocerebellum and the integration of behavioral function

Abstract

The role of the cerebellum in motor function is well documented. Additional data clearly im· plicate the cerebellum in the regulation of sensory processes and autonomic functions, and more recent findings establish an influence of cerebellar systems on the regulation of emotional and motivational behaviors. The cerebellum provides extensive projections to brain· stem and limbic mechanisms that have been implicated in behavioral regulation, and experimen· tal manipulations of the cerebellum have been found to profoundly affect behavioral processes. In the present paper, w~ review some of these findings and offer a conceptual view of cerebellar function that reconciles these apparently disparate actions. We suggest that the cerebellum exerts functionally similar influences at all levels of sensorimotor and behavioral orga· nization. This model provides a conceptual framework for understanding the behavioral consequences of cerebellar dysfunctions, which we suggest can be viewed as behavioral parallels to the classical cerebellar motor syndromes. Data implicating cerebellar systems in the pathogenesis of developmental disturbances in behavioral processes are also considered in the con· text of the present conception of cerebellar·behavioral function.

Cerebellum and emotional behavior

“…These results have been confirmed in rats (Heath et al, 1978) and monkeys (Heath and Harper, 1974). In addition, the vermis by way of fastigial nucleus projects (i) to periaqueductal gray area, a region that has anatomical bidirectional connections with amygdala and septum and (ii) to the locus coeruleus and the ventral tegmental area, the centers of catecholaminergic systems (Berntson and Torello, 1982). Therefore, given its anatomical and functional connections with several structures involved either in somatosensory perception (as the brainstem, thalamus), in emotional state (amygdala, septum and locus coeruleus) and in the control of motor responses, the vermis may represent an interface between the sensory stimuli, the emotional state of the subject and the motor responses.…”

“…Removal of the cerebellum was shown to impair performance of salivary, cardiac, and respiratory conditioning (Berntson andTorello 1982 andSacchetti et al 2005). These effects on aversive conditioning can be localized to the cerebellar vermis.…”

“…They proposed that "these autonomic cerebellar effects may be part of a more complex behavioral reaction." Subsequent studies showed that the vermis is connected to the spinal cord, brainstem and the hypothalamus by way of the fastigial nucleus, thus it can regulate the cardiovascular tone, respiration and gastrointestinal functions, as well as other autonomic processes (Berntson and Torello, 1982). The vermis is also connected with brain sites that are associated with affective and learning processes.…”

L-histidine reduces inhibitory avoidance in Carassius auratus submitted to cerebellar ablation

“…There is growing evidence that the cerebellum of mammals is also involved in emotional behaviors as part of an integrated network that regulates fear responses (3,4). Moreover, it has been reported that the cerebellar vermis is connected to several limbic areas and is involved in emotional learning, for example active avoidance (5,6).…”

“…Although little is known about the emotional behaviors of non-mammals, neuroanatomical studies have revealed that the neuronal organization, basic circuitry and neurophysiologic characteristics of the cerebellum of teleost fish are similar to those of the mammalian cerebellum (6,7). Also, teleosts are suitable for studies with histamine because the central histaminergic system of fish has only one area of projection to the telencephalon (8,9).…”