CERVISO

CEREBELLUM IN VISUALSPATIAL ORIENTATION

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The Cerebellum in visual-spatial orientation (CERVISO) is inter-disciplinary, exchange program uses original and innovative research methods to investigate the role of cerebellum in optimization of motor control and spatial orientation. Toward this objective we will identify patterns of cerebellar functions using the saccadic eye movement model. We will study visual spatial exploration in normal subjects and in patients with cerebellar damage. The impact of this research will be to provide further instruments for understanding and modelling neural substrate of cerebellar functions during visual spatial exploration, with implications for diagnosis, and rehabilitation of cerebellar patients. The proposal will be implemented combining the efforts of three European groups and two USA groups. This will also enable researchers to be trained in technical, procedural and scientific aspects of the study by experienced organizations. Moreover this proposal will facilitate the transfer of knowledge among researchers with experience in different scientific fields and the study of rare genetic diseases clustered in specific regions. The European groups include a INSERM team of Neurologists and Neuropsychologists from Paris (France); a group of Neurologists and Bioengineering from the University of Siena (Italy); a group of Physicists from University of Iasi (Romania). The USA Groups are composed by a team of Bioengineering and Neuroscientists from Baltimore, and by a group of Neuroscientists and Bioengineers from Cleveland. This exchange program results from previous scientific and training collaborations among these groups and is projected for a sustainable long-term cooperation. The project has been selected for a Grant by the Local Institution (Regione Toscana) of Ministry for Research and Development that specifically support the application to this call.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Elucidating the mysteries of our brain is a complex endeavour. EU-funded researchers are investigating how the cerebellum helps in visual-spatial orientation and participates with other brain structures to sensory-motor coupling.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Neuroanatomical, neuroimaging and neuropsychological tests have revealed that the cerebellum controls both motor and cognitive processes. Cerebellum also participate with basal ganglia in the control of goal directed behaviour. However, researchers have still not been able to pinpoint the precise anatomical and physiological modality of cerebellar interaction with other brain areas that may explain its role in complex behaviour such as visual spatial exploration, visual sequential search, attention and other high order cerebral functions.

Under the aegis of the interdisciplinary CERVISO (Cerebellum in visual-spatial orientation) project, researchers are studying the role of the cerebellum in visual-spatial exploration and orientation. CERVISO is a collaboration between three European and three United States groups to train researchers in technical, procedural and scientific aspects and to facilitate knowledge transfer.

CERVISO researchers analysed saccadic and fixation eye movements to decipher some brain functions. Saccades refers to stereotyped fast and precise eye movement. To determine differences in functioning, tests were carried out on normal subjects and on patients with peculiar cerebellar and basal ganglia damage.

In addition to motor control, CERVISO evaluated non-motor aspects of visual perception such as attention, planning, memory, decision making and goal directed behaviour. More specifically, project members worked on elucidating the interaction between the cerebellum, superior colliculus and basal ganglia in performing motor and non-motor functions and how sensory-motor coupling may modulate behavioural responses.

Through software, researchers successfully extracted data from the gaze of normal subjects and patients during visual tasks such as exploration of images. The data from patients with rare neurodegenerative and genetic diseases will prove particularly useful in studying certain cerebellar dysfunctions. They successfully obtained models representing normal cerebellar motor function and discovered a new model of attention. This novel model explores the interaction between the brain's cortical areas and the cerebellum.

Project findings have been published in prestigious international journals and presented at international meetings.

Project activities will significantly enhance our understanding of brain function during visual-spatial exploration and goal directed behaviour. Applications include diagnosing brain dysfunction and designing rehabilitation programmes.