Investigating cortico-cerebellar connectivity across the lifespan

COEX 

Resting-state fMRI studies have illustrated patterns of connectivity between the human neocortex and cerebellum. However, what has not been established is the degree to which cortical inputs converge onto cerebellar regions. Does each cerebellar region receive input from a single cortical area or convergent inputs from multiple cortical areas? In a recently published study, we used task-based fMRI to build cortico-cerebellar connectivity models, allowing for different degrees of convergence, and we evaluated the models by their ability to predict novel cerebellar activity patterns. Models that allowed for convergence between the cortex and cerebellum provided the best prediction, and highest convergence was observed in regions of the cerebellum linked to language, working memory, and social cognition. These findings establish an important foundation for understanding how cortico-cerebellar circuits support motor and cognitive function in healthy adults. While much of the literature has focused on the “little brain” in its mature, adult form, we are starting to appreciate that the developing cerebellum offers a unique window into understanding how and what this structure contributes to cognition. In this lecture, I will review recent work that links the co-occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders to atypical cerebellar development. Building on these observations, I will highlight the differences in cerebellar architecture through the lens of injury and will elaborate on how cerebellar function should be interpreted from infancy to adulthood.