The Cerebellar Epoch

Book Review cerebellum. The distilled message of these five well-The Cerebellar Epoch presented chapters is two new proposed nomenclature systems. The first is a so-called quadrapartite lobular Development of the Cerebellar System in Relation to division of the cerebellum into an anterior lobe (vermal The authors justify this view based on others' physiological studies and on their own embryological studies of The last decade has seen an enormous rekindling of the lobation and fissurization of the cerebellum (pre-interest in the development and function of the cerebel-sented in the middle portion of the text). Especially in lum, not only in the context of its role in complex motor the context of the authors' detailed descriptive studies activity, but as an approachable model for brain function of the developmental changes in cerebellar foliation, this in general. This renewed enthusiasm stems from several view seems reasonable. major advances, including improved methods of electri-The second break from tradition comes in the form cal recording that have facilitated tests of theoretical of a modified division of the inferior olivary nucleus, the models stressing adaptive or " learning " roles for the source of major cerebellar afferents known as climbing cerebellum, advances in cloning opportunities that have fibers. The authors argue that this revised view is justi-led to the isolation and characterization at the molecular fied since the classic version was centered on the quite level of several classic mouse cerebellar mutant genes, unique and expanded rostral region of the human olive and the advent of transgenic mouse technology that (Kooy, Folia Neurobiologica 10, 205–369, 1917) and that has made it possible to directly perturb cerebellar devel-identification of major rodent subdivisions as " acces-opment and function. In this context and at such a criti-sory " nuclei based on this tradition is inappropriate. cal juncture in a historical sense with respect to knowl-Consequently, the authors promote a scheme based edge of cerebellar function and development, there is on topographical patterns of climbing fiber projection. clearly a wide audience receptive to a major new text Thus, six classical subdivisions are reduced to a more on the subject. Although this one falls far short of docu-tractable and logical four. Whether or not these sug-menting these major recent innovations, it nonetheless gested changes are acceptable to most neuroanato-portrays the best overall view, in a decisively anatomical mists, they will most likely resonate well with systems-sense, of the complex cellular movements …