A syndrome of the dentate nucleus mimicking psychogenic ataxia.
To date, cerebellar involvement in control of non-motor functions like cognition and emotion is increasingly well established. Current models suggest that motor and non-motor networks connecting the cerebellum with cortical areas operate independently in closed and segregated loops. Here, we report a 59-year-old female patient with a small cerebellar lesion that shows that cognitive activation can significantly influence cerebellar motor control. Surprisingly, this led to a clinical picture mimicking a psychogenic disorder. Similar to non-human primates, this case suggests that the human dentate nucleus consists of distinct cognitive and motor domains with additional somatotopical arrangement of the latter. Extending current models of cerebro-cerebellar interaction, this case further illustrates that there can be significant functional cross-talk between motor and cognitive cerebellar networks.
Salih
Farid
F
Department of Neurology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Germany. farid.salih@charite.de
Breuer
Eva
E
Harnack
Daniel
D
Hoffmann
Karl-Titus
KT
Ploner
Christoph J
CJ
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone