• Vikram G Shakkottai, Amit Batla, Kailash Bhatia, William T Dauer, Christian Dresel, Martin Niethammer, David Eidelberg, Robert S Raike, Yoland Smith, H A Jinnah, Ellen J Hess, Sabine Meunier, Mark Hallett, Rachel Fremont, Kamran Khodakhah, Mark S LeDoux, Traian Popa, Cécile Gallea, Stéphane Lehericy, Andreea C Bostan, and Peter L Strick.
• Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Room 4009, BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA. vikramsh@med.umich.edu.
• Cerebellum. 2017 Apr 1; 16 (2): 577-594.

AbstractA role for the cerebellum in causing ataxia, a disorder characterized by uncoordinated movement, is widely accepted. Recent work has suggested that alterations in activity, connectivity, and structure of the cerebellum are also associated with dystonia, a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal and sustained muscle contractions often leading to abnormal maintained postures. In this manuscript, the authors discuss their views on how the cerebellum may play a role in dystonia. The following topics are discussed: The relationships between neuronal/network dysfunctions and motor abnormalities in rodent models of dystonia. Data about brain structure, cerebellar metabolism, cerebellar connections, and noninvasive cerebellar stimulation that support (or not) a role for the cerebellum in human dystonia. Connections between the cerebellum and motor cortical and sub-cortical structures that could support a role for the cerebellum in dystonia. Overall points of consensus include: Neuronal dysfunction originating in the cerebellum can drive dystonic movements in rodent model systems. Imaging and neurophysiological studies in humans suggest that the cerebellum plays a role in the pathophysiology of dystonia, but do not provide conclusive evidence that the cerebellum is the primary or sole neuroanatomical site of origin.

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