The posterior lobe of cerebellum or neocerebellum is one of the
lobes of the
cerebellum
The cerebellum (: cerebella or cerebellums; Latin for 'little brain') is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as it or eve ...
, below the
primary fissure. The posterior lobe is much larger than
anterior lobe. The anterior lobe is separated from the posterior lobe by the primary fissure, and the posterolateral fissure separates
flocculonodular lobe from the posterior lobe.
Sometimes, the posterior lobe of cerebellum is called the neocerebellum
since
phylogenetically
In biology, phylogenetics () is the study of the evolutionary history of life using observable characteristics of organisms (or genes), which is known as phylogenetic inference. It infers the relationship among organisms based on empirical data ...
it is the newest part of the cerebellum. It plays an important role in
fine motor coordination, specifically in the inhibition of involuntary movement via inhibitory
neurotransmitter
A neurotransmitter is a signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a Chemical synapse, synapse. The cell receiving the signal, or target cell, may be another neuron, but could also be a gland or muscle cell.
Neurotra ...
s, especially
GABA
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid, γ-aminobutyric acid) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the developmentally mature mammalian central nervous system. Its principal role is reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.
GA ...
.
The posterior lobe receives input mainly from the brainstem (i.e.,
reticular formation
The reticular formation is a set of interconnected nuclei in the brainstem that spans from the lower end of the medulla oblongata to the upper end of the midbrain. The neurons of the reticular formation make up a complex set of neural networks ...
and
inferior olivary nucleus) and cerebral cortex.
It also has activation linked to happiness.
Additional images
File:Posterior lobe of cerebellum -- animation.gif, Animation. Posterior lobe shown in red.
File:Posterior lobe of cerebellum --- animation.gif, Close up animation. Posterior lobe shown in red.
File:Cerebellar lobes by Sanjoy Sanyal.webm, Dissection video (1 min 20 s). Demonstrating the three cerebellar lobes.
Citations
References
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External links
*
Cerebellum
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