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Functional Topography of the Cerebellum in Verbal Working Memory

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Abstract

Speech—both overt and covert—facilitates working memory by creating and refreshing motor memory traces, allowing new information to be received and processed. Neuroimaging studies suggest a functional topography within the sub-regions of the cerebellum that subserve verbal working memory. Medial regions of the anterior cerebellum support overt speech, consistent with other forms of motor execution such as finger tapping, whereas lateral portions of the superior cerebellum support speech planning and preparation (e.g., covert speech). The inferior cerebellum is active when information is maintained across a delay, but activation appears to be independent of speech, lateralized by modality of stimulus presentation, and possibly related to phonological storage processes. Motor (dorsal) and cognitive (ventral) channels of cerebellar output nuclei can be distinguished in working memory. Clinical investigations suggest that hyper-activity of cerebellum and disrupted control of inner speech may contribute to certain psychiatric symptoms.

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Notes

  1. This figure was published in Cortex, 46, Marvel and Desmond, The Contributions of Cerebro-Cerebellar Circuitry to Executive Verbal Working Memory, 880-895, Copyright Elsevier (2010).

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIH R01 MH060234.

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  1. Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1620 McElderry St., Reed Hall 2205B, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Cherie L. Marvel & John E. Desmond

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Marvel, C.L., Desmond, J.E. Functional Topography of the Cerebellum in Verbal Working Memory. Neuropsychol Rev 20, 271–279 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-010-9137-7

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