Abstract
Cerebellar connectivity with the cerebrum is formed during early fetal stages, but details about its development are scarce. Most of what we know today comes from animal studies that address the relationship between early activity patterns found in the cerebellothalamocortical tract and its functional maturation. In humans, cerebellar disruption early in life has been associated with various neurodevelopmental disorders and the occurrence of epilepsy, urging the field to investigate the critical periods of cerebellothalamocortical tract development. Abnormal cerebellothalamocortical tract connectivity has been correlated with abnormal neuronal activity, such as hypersynchronicity. In various rodent models, it has been shown that the cerebellothalamocortical tract is a key player in motor and nonmotor functioning. This chapter provides an up-to-date overview of the experimental and clinical work regarding the developmental code of the cerebellothalamocortical tract and can be utilized to guide novel studies developing therapeutic strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders, epilepsy and possibly other neurological disorders.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Factors Affecting Neurodevelopment |
| Subtitle of host publication | Genetics, Neurology, Behavior, and Diet |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Pages | 383-393 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128179864 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2021 |
Keywords
- Cerebellar nuclei
- Cerebellothalamocortical tract
- Cerebellum
- Myoclonic twitches
- Neonatal seizures
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- REM sleep
- Synchronized activity
- Thalamic nuclei