Cooperation of the cerebrum with the cerebellum | Tasks of the cerebrum

Cooperation of the cerebrum with the cerebellum

The cerebellum lies at the back of the skull, below the cerebrum. Also known as the cerebellum, it serves as a control centre for the coordination, learning and fine-tuning of movement sequences. It receives information from the organ of equilibrium in the ear, the spinal cord, the eyes, and the middle and cerebrum.

The cerebrum and the cerebellum therefore work together when movement sequences are to be planned and executed. Information always flows via intermediate structures and never directly from the cerebrum to the cerebellum or back. The cerebrum is connected to the pons, a structure in the brain stem, via so-called corticopontine pathways.

The pons then transmits the plans for the course of a movement to the cerebellum. The cerebellum in turn works out the plans produced by the cerebral cortex and sends them back to the cerebral cortex via the thalamus. The thalamus is located in the diencephalon and serves as a filter for incoming signals to the cerebrum.

The nerve pathways that run from the cerebrum to the cerebellum and vice versa cross each other on their way. This is relevant for the detection of disturbances in the course of movement and must be taken into account in diagnostics.