Mechanisms of cerebellar contributions to cognition in humans

The role of the human cerebellum in cognitive processes is the subject of ongoing debate. On the basis of neuroanatomical findings of closed cerebro-cerebellar loops in monkeys, which originate not only in motor but also in nonmotor regions of the cerebral cortex, this article addresses mechanisms of the involvement of the human cerebellum in two well-studied cognitive domains, executive function, working memory in particular, and associative learning, with special emphasis on the nature of a potential cerebellar contribution to these cognitive processes. The uniform organization of cortico-cerebellar connections suggests parallels in cerebellar information processing in motor- and nonmotor contexts. Taking into account recent models on cerebellar function, it is suggested that the main contribution of the cerebellum to motor as well as to cognitive tasks may be to provide accurate predictions of future sensations, actions, and events. WIREs Cogn Sci 2012, 3:171-184. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1161 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.