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Cerebellar Microcomplexes and the Modulation of Motor Pattern Generators

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Abstract

The cerebellum provides a paradigm for motor control in which adaptive circuitry modulates control systems rather than being embedded within the motor control circuitry itself. We exemplify this by a model of the role of cerebellum in adaptation to the effects of wearing prism glasses on throwing at a target. The cerebellum is viewed as a set of modules (cerebellar microcomplexes), each of which can be added to a control system to improve smooth coordinated movement, with improvements continuing and improving over time. Moreover, context information can be injected into a module which enables it to change modes. We close with a brief discussion of the implications of work on cerebellar modeling, noting that cerebellar modules can be linked to coordinate different control systems.

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Spoelstra, J., Arbib, M.A. Cerebellar Microcomplexes and the Modulation of Motor Pattern Generators. Autonomous Robots 11, 273–278 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012447225242

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012447225242

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