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Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Vol.

173 (3rd series)


Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development
A. Gallagher, C. Bulteau, D. Cohen and J.L. Michaud, Editors
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Chapter 22

The role of cerebellum in the child


neuropsychological functioning

GEORGES DELLATOLAS1* AND HUGO CÂMARA-COSTA1,2

1
GRC 24, Handicap Moteur et Cognitif et Readaptation, Sorbonne Universite, Paris, France
2
Centre d’Etudes en Sante des Populations, INSERM U1018, Paris, France

Abstract
This chapter proposes a review of neuropsychologic and behavior findings in pediatric pathologies of the
cerebellum, including cerebellar malformations, pediatric ataxias, cerebellar tumors, and other acquired cer-
ebellar injuries during childhood. The chapter also contains reviews of the cerebellar mutism/posterior fossa
syndrome, reported cognitive associations with the development of the cerebellum in typically developing
children and subjects born preterm, and the role of the cerebellum in neurodevelopmental disorders such as
autism spectrum disorders and developmental dyslexia. Cognitive findings in pediatric cerebellar disorders
are considered in the context of known cerebellocerebral connections, internal cellular organization of the
cerebellum, the idea of a universal cerebellar transform and computational internal models, and the role of
the cerebellum in specific cognitive and motor functions, such as working memory, language, timing, or
control of eye movements. The chapter closes with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the cog-
nitive affective syndrome as it has been described in children and some conclusions and perspectives.

INTRODUCTION There is recent converging evidence of the role of the


cerebellum in cognition and also evidence of its implica-
The cerebellum is involved in maintenance of tion in psychopathology, both in adults and children.
balance and posture and coordination of voluntary This chapter reviews neuropsychologic studies in chil-
movements. The key symptoms and signs of cerebellar dren with congenital or acquired pathologies of the cer-
dysfunction, grouped under the term ataxia, include ebellum and studies of the role of the cerebellum in
vertigo, dizziness and imbalance, gait instability, neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum
oculomotor symptoms (ocular instability, nystagmus, disorders (ASDs) and developmental dyslexia. Pediatric
saccadic intrusions, impaired smooth pursuit, impaired pathologies of the cerebellum include cerebellar mal-
vestibulo-ocular reflex, ocular misalignment), motor formations, pediatric ataxias, cerebellar tumors, benign
speech disorder (ataxic dysarthria), hypotonia, adysdia- (such as pilocytic astrocytomas) and malignant (such
dochokinesia, dysmetria, and tremor (Trouillas et al., as medulloblastomas (MBs)), and other cerebellar
1997; Bodranghien et al., 2016). The cerebellum is also injuries acquired in childhood (such as strokes). We
involved in motor learning, including classic eyeblink also describe the cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS)/
conditioning of eyeblink and other discrete motor posterior fossa syndrome. This review is preceded by a
responses (Thompson and Kim, 1996; Bracha et al., general overview of the anatomy and functions of the
2000; Thompson and Steinmetz, 2009). cerebellum, including a brief review of the role of the

*Correspondence to: Georges Dellatolas, GRC 24 Handicap Moteur et Cognitif et Readaptation (HaMCRe)—H^ opital la Salp^etrière,
Departement de Medecine Physique et de Readaptation, 47-83 Boulevard de l’H^
opital, Paris 75013, France. Tel: +33-06-13-56-38-99,
Fax: +33-01-42-16-11-12, E-mail: georges.dellatolas@gmail.com
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X
Neurocognitive Development: Normative Development, 1, (2020) 265-304. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64150-2.00023-X

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