About this Research Topic
The cerebellum is a well-organized brain structure containing half of the brain's neurons and is commonly associated with motor aspects. In the context of cellular physiology and morphology, the cerebellum is one of the most studied brain regions, and therefore functional and structural properties of its major types of neurons, such as Purkinje cells or granule cells, are well-characterized.
The activity of the cerebellar circuitry is regulated and monitored by different kinds of inputs. On its side, the cerebellum sends projections to several brain regions, such as the neocortex, the thalamus, and the hippocampus, and influence their functioning.
In the last few years, it has become apparent that the cerebellum is an important player in cognitive functions. In line with this notion, the cerebellum seems to play a role in cognitive impairments, as shown in Alzheimer’s disease and the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS). The CCAS, is characterized by impairments in cognitive processes, executive functions, and affect regulation, and is caused by lesions in specific regions of the cerebellum. It was first introduced by researchers examining the behavioral performance of patients with cerebellar damage. To date, there are also numerous pieces of evidence of the presence of cerebellar alterations in non-canonical cerebellar diseases. Indeed, it has been shown that cerebellar lesions were present in the physiopathology of disorders such as Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, Autism, and Schizophrenia. Still, the cellular and synaptic cerebellar mechanisms associated with primarily non-cerebellar diseases are still poorly understood.
The aim of our Research Topic is to stimulate the interest of the scientific community working on the cerebellum, to broaden the horizons beyond the classical cerebellar pathologies, and to explore the cerebellar neuroplasticity in primarily non-cerebellar pathologies.
We welcome original articles and reviews that contribute to add new insights into the cellular and synaptic mechanisms of several pathological conditions as well as to suggest new diagnostic alternatives and therapeutic targets.
More specifically, we are looking for manuscripts addressing the following subjects in primarily non-cerebellar diseases:
● Cellular pathways involved in cerebellar plasticity
● Functional and morphological change of cerebellar neurons in neuropathology
● Alteration of synaptic transmission, plasticity, and structure in neuropathology
● Impact of central neuroinflammatory processes on cerebellar neural plasticity and link with neuropathology
● Pharmacological components modulating the cerebellar cellular pathways
The activity of the cerebellar circuitry is regulated and monitored by different kinds of inputs. On its side, the cerebellum sends projections to several brain regions, such as the neocortex, the thalamus, and the hippocampus, and influence their functioning.
In the last few years, it has become apparent that the cerebellum is an important player in cognitive functions. In line with this notion, the cerebellum seems to play a role in cognitive impairments, as shown in Alzheimer’s disease and the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS). The CCAS, is characterized by impairments in cognitive processes, executive functions, and affect regulation, and is caused by lesions in specific regions of the cerebellum. It was first introduced by researchers examining the behavioral performance of patients with cerebellar damage. To date, there are also numerous pieces of evidence of the presence of cerebellar alterations in non-canonical cerebellar diseases. Indeed, it has been shown that cerebellar lesions were present in the physiopathology of disorders such as Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, Autism, and Schizophrenia. Still, the cellular and synaptic cerebellar mechanisms associated with primarily non-cerebellar diseases are still poorly understood.
The aim of our Research Topic is to stimulate the interest of the scientific community working on the cerebellum, to broaden the horizons beyond the classical cerebellar pathologies, and to explore the cerebellar neuroplasticity in primarily non-cerebellar pathologies.
We welcome original articles and reviews that contribute to add new insights into the cellular and synaptic mechanisms of several pathological conditions as well as to suggest new diagnostic alternatives and therapeutic targets.
More specifically, we are looking for manuscripts addressing the following subjects in primarily non-cerebellar diseases:
● Cellular pathways involved in cerebellar plasticity
● Functional and morphological change of cerebellar neurons in neuropathology
● Alteration of synaptic transmission, plasticity, and structure in neuropathology
● Impact of central neuroinflammatory processes on cerebellar neural plasticity and link with neuropathology
● Pharmacological components modulating the cerebellar cellular pathways
Keywords: Cerebellum, Plasticity, ASD, Brain Inflammation, Neuropsychiatric Diseases
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
