title: Limb flexion reflex-related areas in human cerebellum.
abstract: Numerous studies have shown that the cerebellum is involved in classical conditioning of specific aversive reactions. Only few studies, however, have examined the exact localization of cerebellar areas involved in the control of unconditioned reflex responses. The present study investigated cerebellar areas, which are activated during eliciting of the limb flexion reflex in healthy controls using [15O]H2O PET. Limb flexion reflex related areas were found in vermal lobules III-VI with the local maximum in vermal lobule V. Areas of activation were more widespread compared to a voluntary foot movement and a sensory foot stimulation condition. Limb flexion reflex areas probably reflect efferent reflex modulation as well as sensory inputs from the stimulus itself and/or the reflex response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. matthias.maschke@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maschke
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erichsen
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drepper
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jentzen
authors.forename: Stefan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Florian P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Kolb
authors.forename: Hans-Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Diener
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Timmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005121:Extremities / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014836:Volition / Q000502:physiology