Cerebellar contribution to behaviour and cognition in children

Many studies have confirmed the role of the cerebellum in the organisation of superior brain functions in adults. Congenital cerebellar alterations, particularly global hypoplasia of the vermis or selective hypoplasia of some vermian lobules, are frequently observed in children with neurological diseases. These anatomical alterations are associated with neuropsychological or developmental disorders that often give rise to pictures of various degrees of mental insufficiency of varying severity with behavioural changes that may even lead to autism. Hypoplasia of the VI and VII vermian lobules are accompanied by autistic-like pictures, whereas damage to the VIII, IX and X lobules is associated with attention disturbances. Studies of normally intelligent children with acquired cerebellar lesions (mainly tumours) have made it possible to reveal different neuropsychological profiles depending on the lesioned site: lesions of the vermis are related to behavioural and verbal production disturbances, whereas those affecting the cerebellar hemispheres are associated with patterns of side-specific cognitive dysfunctions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.