Moving, sensing and learning with cerebellar damage

The cerebellum is a subcortical brain structure that is essential for learning and controlling movement. Recent work shows that the cerebellum also plays a role in certain perceptual abilities, beyond what would be expected secondary to poor movement control. This review covers these and other recent advances, focusing on how cerebellar damage affects human abilities ranging from sensory perception to movement control and motor learning.

► We discuss how human cerebellar damage leads to behavioral and learning deficits. ► Movement control and visual motion discrimination are both impaired. ► Motor learning is impaired but can be improved with gradual training procedures.