Can Cerebellar Neurodevelopmental Disorders Affect Behavioral Disorders or Vice Versa? Publisher



Saeedi Saravi SS^{1, 2, 3} ; Dehpour AR^{2, 3}
Source: Contemporary Clinical Neuroscience Published:2017

Abstract

Recent investigations have been focused on understanding the role of the cerebellum in non-motor behaviors and of the cerebellar dysfunction in neurodevelopmental, neurobehavioral, and schizo-affective disorders. Non-motor behaviors, including emotion, cognition, and social behavior, seem to be modified by impairment of the cerebellar structure-function relationship. Clinically, these behavioral defects have been observed in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia. These behavioral outcomes have been demonstrated to be associated with prenatal and/or early postnatal damages of cerebro-cerebellar circuits. Concerning to the essential role of the cerebellum in early neurodevelopment, understanding the association between cerebellar injury and long-term alteration in behavior is highly crucial. This chapter’s attempts are to summarize the recent evidence of involvement of the cerebellum in neurodevelopment and behavior and that both these views remain to be revised for declaration of the paradoxical relationship between cerebellar function and behavioral despair, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD and ADHD. © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG.