Anatomical tracing, human clinical data, and stimulation functional imaging have firmly established the major role of the (neo-)cerebellum in cognition and emotion. Telencephalization characterized by the great expansion of associative cortices, especially the prefrontal one, has been associated with parallel expansion of the neocerebellar cortex, especially the lobule VII, and by an increased number of interconnections between these two cortical structures. These anatomical modifications underlie the implication of the neocerebellum in cognitive control of complex motor and non-motor tasks. In humans, resting state functional connectivity has been used to determine a thorough anatomo-functional parcellation of the neocerebellum. This technique has identified central networks involving the neocerebellum and subserving its cognitive function. Neocerebellum participates in all intrinsic connected networks such as central executive, default mode, salience, dorsal and ventral attentional, and language-dedicated networks. The central executive network constitutes the main circuit represented within the neocerebellar cortex. Cerebellar zones devoted to these intrinsic networks appear multiple, interdigitated, and spatially ordered in three gradients. Such complex neocerebellar organization enables the neocerebellum to monitor and synchronize the main networks involved in cognition and emotion, likely by computing internal models.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the world and remains a major public health problem. To date, incomplete knowledge of this disease’s pathophysiology has resulted in current therapies (pharmaceutical or surgical) unfortunately having only a slowing effect on disease progression. Recent research suggests that glaucomatous optic neuropathy is a disease that shares common neuroinflammatory mechanisms with “classical” neurodegenerative pathologies. In addition to the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), neuroinflammation appears to be a key element in the progression and spread of this disease. Indeed, early reactivity of glial cells has been observed in the retina, but also in the central visual pathways of glaucoma patients and in preclinical models of ocular hypertension. Moreover, neuronal lesions are not limited to retinal structure, but also occur in central visual pathways. This review summarizes and puts into perspective the experimental and clinical data obtained to date to highlight the need to develop neuroprotective and immunomodulatory therapies to prevent blindness in glaucoma patients.

Previous ROI-based functional connectivity studies found functional coherence between cerebellum and cerebral amygdale, at rest. Moreover, some neurospychiatric symptoms were accompanied by abnormal activations of these two brain areas. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify a putative, resting-state intrinsically connected cerebello-amygdaloid network. ICA-based analysis was performed on brain resting-state functional images of 15 volunteers. The first ICA spatial component corresponded to a circuit including: dentate nuclei, lobules VI and VIII, the basolateral amygdala, the substantia nigra, the posterior insula, claustrum and the parietal opercule. A new intrinsically connected network linking cerebellum and amygdala is described, which could be in charge of sensorimotor, emotional and motivational integration of somesthesic stimuli before recruiting more specialized circuits such as ventral striatum or attentional and salience networks.

We seeked for specific cerebellar contribution within the dorsal attentional network (DAN), using Independent Component Analysis (ICA). ICA-based analysis was performed on brain resting-state functional images of 19 volunteers. We confirmed that DAN includes bilaterally: lobules VI-VII (crus I) and VIIB-VIIIA, as previously reported by Region-Of-Interest (ROI)-based functional connectivity studies. We also found that lobule IX (tonsillae), and as well as the superior and, likely, inferior colliculi. Also belong to DAN. The part of lobule IX in relation to DAN is located more caudally and laterally, and less extensive than the more rostral part of this lobule belonging to the default-mode network (DMN). Rostral and caudal tonsillae partake in the DMN and DAN, respectively. The latter could subserve either eye movement control in relation to the oculomotor parieto-frontal network, partially congruent with the DAN, or more cognitive functions due to functional reallocation within the DAN.