Over the past few semesters a group of neurologists, neurophysiologists, and brain theorists in various departments of Tlibingen University have gathered periodically in an effort to review ideas and evidence on cerebel­ lar functions. At times, general solutions seemed close, when credit was given to various theoretical proposals advanced since the early days of cer­ ebellar physiology, however, it became clear in every case that a large part of the available facts refused to submit to the general ideas. As believers in the power of scientific discussion, we felt that the time was ripe for posing the problem of the cerebellum once more to a well­ articulated group of specialists that would include proponents of every disparate point of view. The sponsorship of the Max Planck Society and of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, to whom we express our profound gratitude, made it possible to organize an international meeting in Septem­ ber, 1983. The aim of making new, even extravagant ideas palatable to each other was well accomplished by the participants. We trust that some of the ensuing excitement has been carried over into the printed version.

Inhalt

How are "Move" and "Hold" Programs Matched?.- A Cerebellar-dependent Efference Copy Mechanism for Generating Appropriate Muscle Responses to Limb Perturbations.- Motor Programs: Trajectory Versus Stability.- Parsimony in Neural Calculations for Postural Movements.- A Synthetic Motor Control System; Possible Parallels With Transformations in Cerebellar Cortex.- Cerebro-Cerebellar Interactions and Organization of a Fast and Stable Hand Movement: Cerebellar Participation in Voluntary Movement and Motor Learning.- On the Role of the Subprimate Cerebellar Flocculus in the Optokinetic Reflex and Visual -Vestibular Interaction.- The Primate Flocculus in Visual-Vestibular Interactions: Conceptual, Neurophysiological, and Anatomical Problems.- Clinical Evidence for Functional Compartmentalization of the Cerebellum.- Perceptual Analysis of Speech Disorders in Friedreich Disease and Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy.- Cerebellar Hemispherectomy at Young Ages in Rats.- Cerebellar Control of Movement in Fish as Revealed by Small Lesions.- Functional Significance of the Basic Cerebellar Circuit in Motor Coordination.- Some Quantitative Aspects of Cerebellar Anatomy as a Guide to Speculation on Cerebellar Functions.- Tensorial Brain Theory in Cerebellar Modelling.- Inferior Olive: Functional Aspects.- Climbing Fiber Function: Regulation of Purkinje Cell Responsiveness.- Rhythmic Properties of Climbing Fiber Afferent Responses to Peripheral Stimuli.- Cerebellar Climbing Fibers Retrogradely Labeled With (3H)-D-Aspartate.- Climbing Fibre Actions of Purkinje Cells - Plateau Potentials and Long-Lasting Depression of Parallel Fibre Responses.- Functional Changes of the Purkinje Cell Following Climbing Fiber Deafferentation.- Inferior Olive: Its Tonic Inhibitory Effect on the Cerebellar Purkinje Cells in the Rat Without Anesthesia.- Tonic Influence of the Climbing Fiber System on the Postural Activity.- Sensory Representation of Movement Parameters in the Cerebellar Cortex of the Decerebrate Cat.- Constraints on Plasticity of Cerebellar Circuitry: Granule Cell-Purkinje Cell Synapses.- Comparison Between the Developmental Calendars of the Cerebral and Cerebellar Cortices in a Precocial and an Altricial Rodent.- Three Types of Large Nerve Cells in the Granular Layer of the Human Cerebellar Cortex.- Local Circuit Neurons in the Cerebellar Dentate Nucleus of Man.- Brain Stem Afferents Bilaterally Branching to the Cat Cerebellar Hemispheres.