98%
921
2 minutes
20
The cerebellum has a parasagittal modular architecture characterized by precisely organized climbing fiber (CF) projections that are congruent with alternating aldolase C/zebrin II expression. However, the behavioral relevance of CF inputs into individual modules remains poorly understood. Here, we used two-photon calcium imaging in the cerebellar hemisphere Crus II in mice performing an auditory go/no-go task to investigate the functional differences in CF inputs to modules. CF signals in medial modules show anticipatory decreases, early increases, secondary increases, and reward-related increases or decreases, which represent quick motor initiation, go cues, fast motor behavior, and positive reward outcomes. CF signals in lateral modules show early increases and reward-related decreases, which represent no-go and/or go cues and positive reward outcomes. The boundaries of CF functions broadly correspond to those of aldolase C patterning. These results indicate that spatially segregated CF inputs in different modules play distinct roles in the execution of goal-directed behavior.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6844646 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.47021 | DOI Listing |
Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations are one established cause of isolated dystonia and hyposmia. Homozygous mutations have been reported in siblings with generalized dystonia and intellectual disability. encodes major [NM_001369387.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCerebellum
September 2025
Department of Neurology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA.
Oculopalatal tremor is a rare neurological disorder characterized by rhythmic oscillations of ocular and palatal muscles. This phenomenon is commonly associated with hypertrophic degeneration of the inferior olive due to loss of GABAergic cerebello-olivary fibers. Oculopalatal tremor highlights the complex interplay between cerebellar, mesodiencephalic, and olivary networks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElife
September 2025
Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Climbing fiber (CF) transmission from the inferior olive (IO) triggers complex spikes (Cs) in Purkinje cells (PCs) driven by a burst of calcium spikes. In the context of motor learning, especially the compensatory optic response, CF transmission serves as an instructive signal selectively conveyed to PCs. While the significance of CF input in motor memory formation is widely acknowledged, a comprehensive understanding of its distinct contribution across different temporal windows, spanning from the initial learning phase to the retrieval period, remains incomplete.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Biol
August 2025
Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address:
The cerebellum plays a key role in motor coordination and learning. In contrast to classical supervised learning models, recent work has revealed that climbing fibers (CFs) can signal reward-predictive information in some behaviors. This raises the question of whether CFs may also operate according to the principles of reinforcement learning.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Psychiatry
August 2025
Jing'an District Central Hospital of Shanghai, Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disorders, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
BCL11A encodes a transcription factor essential for brain development, with pathogenic variants causing intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), microcephaly, hypotonia, and behavioral abnormalities. While clinical studies have identified cerebellar pathology in patients with BCL11A variants, the specific roles of this gene in cerebellar function and its relationship to clinical symptoms remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that Bcl11a is predominantly expressed in Purkinje cells (PCs) of both the developing and adult mouse cerebellum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF