title: The cerebellum and cognitive function: implications for rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the cognitive effects of isolated cerebellar lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of two inpatient cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rehabilitation unit of a tertiary general hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with acute ischemic strokes who had solitary cerebellar infarcts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment with standard neuropsychological tests. Scores were compared with patients' premorbid levels and standardized test norms. A classical conditioning eyeblink paradigm was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuropsychological measures of intellectual and executive functions, learning and memory, visual-spatial abilities, language functioning, fine motor speed, and dexterity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test findings suggested lesion-associated deficits in higher aspects of cognition (visuospatial reasoning, verbal and visual memory, and intellectual and executive functions). These functions are not usually associated with the fundamentally motoric role of the cerebellum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (1) Lesions in the cerebellum can be associated with impairments in higher cognitive functioning. (2) Such effects may be severe enough for a diagnosis of dementia under current diagnostic criteria. (3) These rehabilitation patients may benefit from comprehensive cognitive examination to determine if cognitive effects will detract from their participation. (4) Further research is needed to localize which cerebellar areas affect which cognitive abilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Chafetz
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kevorkian
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014854:Lateral Medullary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests