Causes and consequences of oscillations in the cerebellar cortex

Neuron. 2008 Jun 12;58(5):655-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.05.019.

Abstract

Cerebellar high-frequency oscillations have been observed for many decades, but their underlying mechanisms have remained enigmatic. In this issue of Neuron, two papers indicate that specific intrinsic mechanisms in the cerebellar cortex contribute to the generation of these oscillations. Middleton et al. show that GABA(A) receptor activation and nonchemical transmission are required for nicotine-dependent oscillations at 30-80 Hz and 80-160 Hz, respectively, while de Solages et al. provide evidence that recurrent inhibition by Purkinje cells is essential for oscillations around 200 Hz.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Biological Clocks / drug effects
  • Biological Clocks / physiology*
  • Cerebellar Cortex / cytology
  • Cerebellar Cortex / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Nicotine / pharmacology
  • Purkinje Cells / physiology
  • Receptors, GABA-A / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Nicotine