Language in the cerebellum.

PURPOSE

To explore increasingly compelling evidence that the adult human cerebellum is involved in nonmotor affective and cognitive activity, including language-functions that have in the past been associated largely with the limbic system and the cerebral cortex.

METHOD

We review clinical studies of patients with cerebellar lesions, nonclinical neuroimaging studies of individuals engaged in completing selected tasks, and neuroanatomical as well as neuroimaging studies of brain interconnections. In the course of this review, we also report on a variety of hypotheses regarding the nature of the cerebellum's work in affective processing and language/cognition.

RESULTS

This review suggests that the cerebellum has considerable influence in language processing and other related higher level affective/cognitive activities.

CONCLUSION

We conclude with a preliminary list of important clinical implications of these results.