Relation between the prefrontal cortex and cerebro-cerebellar functions: evidence from the results of stabilometrical indexes.
The relation between prefrontal cortex and cerebro-cerebellar functions of 50 normal healthy elderly people was examined. The function of the prefrontal cortex was measured by means of a letter fluency test and the Digit Cancellation Test (D-CAT, a test for the assessment of attention). Two indexes of postural tremor measured by the stabilometer were employed for the indication of cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit functions. The results of groups consisting of participants showing higher or lower scores than the mean of the norm on the stabilometer index measurements were compared with their D-CAT and letter fluency test performances. The results showed that 2 indexes of cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit functions related to the attention function while the relation to the language function was rather weak. The results of the behavioral measures demonstrated a mutual relation between prefrontal cortex and cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit functions and strongly suggest the notion that the human brain functions as a system, which includes neocortex, subcortex, and cerebellum.
Hatta
Takeshi
T
Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Japan. thatta@info.human.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Masui
Tetsuo
T
Ito
Yasuhiro
Y
Ito
Emi
E
Hasegawa
Yukiharu
Y
Matsuyama
Yukihiro
Y
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011187:Posture; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D013060:Speech; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D014202:Tremor