The cerebellothalamic tract or the tractus cerebellothalamicus, is part of the superior cerebellar peduncle. It originates in the cerebellar nuclei, crosses completely in the decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncle, bypasses the red nucleus, and terminates in posterior division of ventral lateral nucleus of thalamus. The ventrolateral nucleus has different divisions and distinct connections, mostly with frontal and parietal lobes. The primary motor cortex and premotor cortex get information from the ventrolateral nucleus projections originating in the interposed nucleus and dentate nuclei.[1] Other dentate nucleus projections via thalamic pathway transmit information to prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex.[1] The cerebellum sends thalamocortical projections and in addition may also send connections from the thalamus to association areas serving cognitive and affective functions.
It is mostly separated from the pallidothalamic tracts.[2]
It can play a role in mediating symptoms in hereditary dystonia.[3]
The term "cerebellothalamocortical pathway" is used to indicate termination in the cerebral cortex.[4]
- ^ a b Martin, John H. (2003). Neuroanatomy: text and atlas. Columbia: McGraw-Hill. p. 321. ISBN 0-07-138183-X.
- ^ Gallay MN, Jeanmonod D, Liu J, Morel A (August 2008). "Human pallidothalamic and cerebellothalamic tracts: anatomical basis for functional stereotactic neurosurgery". Brain Struct Funct. 212 (6): 443–63. doi:10.1007/s00429-007-0170-0. PMC 2494572. PMID 18193279.
- ^ Argyelan M, Carbon M, Niethammer M, et al. (August 2009). "Cerebellothalamocortical connectivity regulates penetrance in dystonia". J. Neurosci. 29 (31): 9740–7. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2300-09.2009. PMC 2745646. PMID 19657027.
- ^ Molnar GF, Sailer A, Gunraj CA, Lang AE, Lozano AM, Chen R (September 2004). "Thalamic deep brain stimulation activates the cerebellothalamocortical pathway". Neurology. 63 (5): 907–9. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000137419.85535.c7. PMID 15365147.