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Query: UMLS:C0153640 (Cerebellum)
 1,777 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Traditionally, it is believed, that the primary function of the cerebellum is to coordinate movement. During the past three decades, it has been controversially discussed, whether the cerebellum may also contribute to cognition and mental states like emotions. In this paper, no position relating to this controversy will be taken. Instead, the hypothesis of non-motor functions of the cerebellum will be viewed from the position of the philosophy of mind. The remarkably uniform microscopic structure and neuronal networks of the cerebellum have led to computer analogies by several authors. The main idea of functionalism, i.e., a theory within the philosophy of mind, is that the mental relates to the physical as computer software does to hardware. This raises the question, whether a cerebellar contribution to cognition and mental states would support functionalism in the philosophy of mind. No support of functionalism could be found in this study, investigating the classical philosophical arguments pro and con functionalism such as those of multiple realizability, the Chinese room and the explanatory gap, while taking the results of cerebellar research into account. On the other hand, philosophical reflection suggests a careful use of the phrases "cognitive dysmetria" (Andreasen et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1996;93:9985-90) in the context of mental illness and of "dysmetria of thought" (Schmahmann Arch Neurol. 1991;48:1178-87). According to the argument of the explanatory gap there is at present little support for the assumption that the phenomenal experiencing of an altered emotion can be reduced to the dysmetria of movement.
Cerebellum 2007
PMID:Cerebellum and cognition: viewed from philosophy of mind. 1785 19

Nonmotor symptoms (NMS) have been described in several neurodegenerative diseases but have not been systematically evaluated in spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10). The objective of the study is to compare the frequency of NMS in patients with SCA10, Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), and healthy controls. Twenty-eight SCA10, 28 MJD, and 28 healthy subjects were prospectively assessed using validated screening tools for chronic pain, autonomic symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbances, psychiatric disorders, and cognitive function. Chronic pain was present with similar prevalence among SCA10 patients and healthy controls but was more frequent in MJD. Similarly, autonomic symptoms were found in SCA10 in the same proportion of healthy individuals, while the MJD group had higher frequencies. Restless legs syndrome and REM sleep behavior disorder were uncommon in SCA10. The mean scores of excessive daytime sleepiness were worse in the SCA10 group. Scores of fatigue were higher in the SCA10 sample compared to healthy individuals, but better than in the MJD. Psychiatric disorders were generally more prevalent in both spinocerebellar ataxias than among healthy controls. The cognitive performance of healthy controls was better compared with SCA10 patients and MJD, which showed the worst scores. Although NMS were present among SCA10 patients in a higher proportion compared to healthy controls, they were more frequent and severe in MJD. In spite of these comparisons, we were able to identify NMS with significant functional impact in patients with SCA10, indicating the need for their systematic screening aiming at optimal treatment and improvement in quality of life.
Cerebellum 2017 Dec
PMID:Nonmotor Symptoms in Patients with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 10. 2858 61