Speaker：Simin Liu (刘斯敏) Chenlei Hu (胡晨蕾) Shuo Cao (曹铄)

Abstract:

Cerebellum is an indispensable structure in our brain, which plays a major role in the motor learning. It has very large cellular heterogeneity and forms circular projections with many different brain regions, including the cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia, etc. It is quite interesting that how our cerebellum could coordinate different brain regions with our body to perform actions finely.

Previous studies have shown that the motor learning is driven by a kind of error signal and realized through multiple plasticity mechanisms, including majorly the LTD on Purkinje cells. However, recent studies also show an important role that LTP plays in the motor learning. Meanwhile, the cerebellum can serve as a commander to modulate other motor-related system including the cortico-striatal system. It is a very attractive topic to figure out the mechanisms of the cerebellar motor learning.

Cerebellum has long been considered as involved in motor-related function. However, accumulating evidences have revealed cerebellum’s contribution to non-motor function. One study (Peter T. Tsai et.al. 2012) shows that conditional knockout of Tsc1 in Purkinje cells of cerebellum alone can lead to Autism-like social interacting deficit in mice, while the motor and olfactory function remains intact. Another study (Mark J. Wagner et.al. 2017) shows that cerebellar granule cells encodes the expectation of reward. These research indicates that cerebellum might be involved in activity more than motor control.

Guest information:

1. Dr. Yan Yang (Institution of Biophysics, CAS)

http://english.ibp.cas.cn/ibp_pi/XY/201603/t20160324_160930.html

2. Dr. Zengcai Guo (THU)

http://www.med.tsinghua.edu.cn/Person?method=102&perId=215

Recommend Literatures：

Review:

1. Boyden, E. S., Katoh, A., & Raymond, J. L. (2004). Cerebellum-dependent learning: the role of multiple plasticity mechanisms. Annual review of neuroscience, 27.

Link：http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev.neuro.27.070203.144238

Papers:

1. Coesmans, M., Weber, J. T., De Zeeuw, C. I., & Hansel, C. (2004). Bidirectional parallel fiber plasticity in the cerebellum under climbing fiber control. Neuron, 44(4), 691-700.

Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627304007123

Wagner, M. J., Kim, T. H., Savall, J., Schnitzer, M. J., & Luo, L. (2017). Cerebellar granule cells encode the expectation of reward. Nature.

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature21726