Neuronal circuit function and dysfunction in the cerebellum: from neurons to integrated control.

This special issue follows the meeting The Cerebellum: From Neurons to Higher Control and Cognition held in Pavia, Italy, on 8-9 July 2010. Ever since the early anatomical discoveries by Golgi and Ramon Y Cajal (1-3), cerebellar neuroscience has provided pioneering observations on the nature of ionic channels, synaptic transmission and circuit organization, expanding to such an extent that it still represents a benchmark for brain sciences (2). Cerebellar investigations are providing amongst the highest resolution recordings at cellular and subcellular level, innovative techniques for neuronal circuit analysis and functional imaging of higher control functions. This stimulating experimental activity is supported by remarkable attempts to develop realistic computational models and multi-scale brain theories, projecting cerebellum neuroscience towards the integration of molecular-cellular mechanisms into circuit and systemic level dynamics. The clinical interest in the cerebellum has also been revitalized by this structure’s core involvement not just in motor pathologies like ataxia but also in cognitive pathologies like autism and dyslexia. The papers included in this issue cover cerebellum neuronal circuit functions and synaptic plasticity, moving from neurons to integrated control and considering the potential causes of cerebellar ataxia and motor learning dysfunction. Current models of the cerebellum are reviewed (Dean and Porrill) and several genetic mutations are considered in relation to their ability to alter cerebellar neuron excitability (Libster et al., Empson et al.), synaptic transmission and long-term synaptic plasticity (Le Guen and De Zeeuw, Rinaldo and Hansel). Finally, the impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on cerebellar long-term synaptic plasticity (Colnaghi et al., Koch) is evaluated as TMS emerges as a new tool for eliciting long-term synaptic plasticity in the human brain with potential implications for neurological rehabilitation.

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