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Updated: May 28, 2025

Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum
Published on: February 15, 2015
Ignoring the cerebellum is hindering progress in neuroscience
Bangjie Wang1, Amanda LeBel2, Anila M D'Mello3
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
Abstract:
Traditionally considered a motor structure, the cerebellum has been shown to play a key role in several cognitive functions. However, for decades, the cerebellum has been largely overlooked and even deliberately excluded from 'whole-brain' neuroimaging studies. Here, we propose that the continued exclusion of the cerebellum has limited our understanding of whole-brain function. We describe reasons - both warranted and unwarranted - behind its historical exclusion from the neuroimaging literature, review literature describing the importance of the cerebellum and its unique role in brain function, and outline the potential unintended negative consequences of exclusion of the cerebellum for our comprehensive understanding of brain function and clinical disorders.
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