Most neuroscientists have
considered the cerebellum (Latin for “Little Brain”) to have the relatively
simple job of overseeing muscle coordination and balance. However, new findings
show that the cerebellum is probably responsible for much, much more including
the fine-tuning of our deepest thoughts and emotions. There is a report about
the trials and triumphs of a man named Jonathan Kelcher who was born without a
cerebellum.
His case study could open many
new windows of understanding about how the brain and mind work by revealing
what the very mysterious cerebellum is actually doing. Conventionally,
neuroscientists don't give the cerebellum much credit for higher executive
functions, cognition, psychiatric disorders, or emotional regulation. Luckily,
this outdated viewpoint about the cerebellum is rapidly evolving.
More information: