Cerebellothalamic tract

In a nutshell

The cerebellothalamic tract or the tractus cerebellothalamicus, is part of the superior cerebellar peduncle. It originates in the cerebellar nuclei, crosses completely in the decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncle, bypasses the red nucleus, and terminates in posterior division of ventral lateral nucleus of thalamus. The ventrolateral nucleus has different divisions and distinct connections, mostly with frontal and parietal lobes. The primary motor cortex and premotor cortex get information from the ventrolateral nucleus projections originating in the interposed nucleus and dentate nuclei. Other dentate nucleus projections via thalamic pathway transmit information to prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex. The cerebellum sends thalamocortical projections and in addition may also send connections from the thalamus to association areas serving cognitive and affective functions.

Related on Lably

Through Sensory nervous system

LabMyself – All About Me LabMy Five Senses LabAll About Me Lab · Class 3My Body & Hygiene

It is mostly separated from the pallidothalamic tracts.

It can play a role in mediating symptoms in hereditary dystonia.

The term "cerebellothalamocortical pathway" is used to indicate termination in the cerebral cortex.

Function

The cerebellothalamic tract transmits information from the cerebellum to the thalamus via neural impulses for the sensory systems.

Motor adaptation is primarily a function of the cerebellothalamic fiber pathway. The cerebellum oversees modification of routine motor programs in response to changes in the environment (e.g. walking uphill versus walking on a flat surface). It is experimentally shown that prolonged motor adaptation, such as walking over a period of weeks while wearing an ankle cast, is accompanied by long-term potentiation of cerebellothalamic synapses, thereby facilitating the influence of the cerebellum on the motor cortex.

One more chapter is free with a Lably account.

More in Neuroscience

StriatumNucleus in the basal ganglia of the brain Brain-derived neurotrophic factorProtein found in humans Orbitofrontal cortexRegion of the prefrontal cortex of the brain Ventral tegmental areaGroup of neurons on the floor of the midbrain Slow-wave sleepPeriod of sleep in humans and other animals Vascular endothelial growth factorProtein involved in blood vessel growth

Function

Clinical significance

More in Neuroscience