The University of Queensland

Neural Mechanisms of Motor Learning (2012–2016)

Abstract:

The cerebellum is known to control balance, coordination, and muscle memory, but there are still fundamental questions about how this happens. Specifically, we do not know how signals from the cerebellum reach the rest of the brain to organise body movements. Our work uses new genetic tools to study output from the cerebellum. The aims are to identify brain regions that receive the cerebellum's signals, and to characterise this output with regard to behaviour. We will describe how the cerebellum functions during motor tasks, and then silence or activate cerebellar nerve cells to block or artificially create these signals. We expect that this will reveal the basic properties of cerebellar signals that allow animals to move smoothly.

Grant type:

ARC Future Fellowships

Funded by:

Australian Research Council