Cerebellar Lesions and Effects on Posture, Locomotion and Limb Movement

The cerebellum is a subcortical structure important for controlling and adapting movements. Damage to the cerebellum results in ataxia (i.e., incoordination) but not loss of movement or paralysis. There are many distinct signs of limb, balance, and gait ataxia, which are exacerbated by moving multiple joints together and by moving quickly. Some cerebellar deficits seem to result from a failure of motor commands to account for mechanical interactions between segments. Others appear to be more related to timing control or generating predictive motor commands. Optimal cerebellar control is maintained through adaptive learning processes, which are important for keeping movements appropriately adjusted for varying environmental demands.