Open AccessChanges in cerebellar activation pattern during two successive sequences of saccades
Author(s) -
Stephan Thomas,
Mascolo Andrea,
Yousry Tarek A.,
Bense Sandra,
Brandt Thomas,
Dieterich Marianne
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.10028
Subject(s) - cerebellum , neuroscience , cerebellar vermis , psychology , motor learning , cerebellar hemisphere , hum , art , performance art , art history
The changes in the cerebellar activation pattern of two successive fMRI scanning runs were determined for visually guided to‐and‐fro saccades in 12 healthy volunteers familiar with the study paradigm. Group and single subject‐analyses revealed a constant activation of the paramedian cerebellar vermis (uvula, tonsils, tuber, folium/declive), which reflects constant ocular motor activity in both runs. A significant decrease in activation of the cerebellar hemispheres found in the second run is best explained by either a decrease in attention or the effects of motor optimization and learning. The significant, systematic changes of the cerebellar activation pattern in two successive runs were not expected, because the ocular motor task was simple, familiar, and highly automated. These findings indicate that similar effects may bias other cerebellar activation studies, in which sensorimotor tasks are repeated in a single session. Hum. Brain Mapping 16:63–70, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.