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Physiology in Press

First published online on January 10, 2008.
Copyright © 2008 by The Physiological Society
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jphysiol.2007.144220v1
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Received August 31, 2007
Revised October 1, 2007
Accepted after revision December 18, 2007

Bilateral representation in the deep cerebellar nuclei

Demetris S Soteropoulos1 and Stuart N Baker1*

1 University of Newcastle upon Tyne

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: stuart.baker{at}ncl.ac.uk.

The cerebellum is normally assumed to represent ipsilateral movements. We tested this by making microelectrode penetrations into the deep cerebellar nuclei (mainly nucleus interpositus) of monkeys trained to perform a reach and grasp task with either hand. Following weak single electrical stimuli, many sites produced clear bilateral facilitation of multiple forelimb muscles. The short onset latencies – which were similar for each side – suggested that at least some of the muscle responses were mediated by descending tracts originating in the brainstem, rather than via the cerebral cortex. Additionally, cerebellar neurones modulated their discharge with both ipsilateral and contralateral movements. This was so, even when we carefully excluded contralateral trials with evidence of electromyogram modulation on the ipsilateral side. We conclude that the deep cerebellar nuclei have a bilateral movement representation, and relatively direct, powerful access to limb muscles on both sides of the body. This places the cerebellum in an ideal position to coordinate bilateral movements.


Key words: Cerebellum • Motor control • Movement • Bimanual







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