Specific Contribution of the Cerebellar Inferior Posterior Lobe to Motor Learning in Degenerative Cerebellar Ataxia.
Authors
Affiliations (13)
Affiliations (13)
- Department of Rehabilitation, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Center Hospital, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashicho, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan.
- The Center for Personalized Medicine for Healthy Aging, Institute of Science Tokyo (Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School, Institute of Science Tokyo (Tokyo Medical and Dental University), 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan.
- Departments of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi, Chuo-ku, Niigata, 951-8585, Japan.
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Kanagawa, Japan.
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, 65 Tsurumai-Cho, Showa-Ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishicho, Yonago, 683-8504, Japan.
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, 2-6-1 Musashidai, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-0042, Japan.
- Department of Clinical Data Science, Clinical Research & Education Promotion Division, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan.
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan.
- Department of Neurology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Center Hospital, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashicho, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan.
- Department of Neurology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Center Hospital, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashicho, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan. [email protected].
Abstract
Degenerative cerebellar ataxia, a group of progressive neurodegenerative disorders, is characterised by cerebellar atrophy and impaired motor learning. Using CerebNet, a deep learning algorithm for cerebellar segmentation, this study investigated the relationship between cerebellar subregion volumes and motor learning ability. We analysed data from 37 patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia and 18 healthy controls. Using CerebNet, we segmented four cerebellar subregions: the anterior lobe, superior posterior lobe, inferior posterior lobe, and vermis. Regression analyses examined the associations between cerebellar volumes and motor learning performance (adaptation index [AI]) and ataxia severity (Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia [SARA]). The inferior posterior lobe volume showed a significant positive association with AI in both single (B = 0.09; 95% CI: [0.03, 0.16]) and multiple linear regression analyses (B = 0.11; 95% CI: [0.008, 0.20]), an association that was particularly evident in the pure cerebellar ataxia subgroup. SARA scores correlated with anterior lobe, superior posterior lobe, and vermis volumes in single linear regression analyses, but these associations were not maintained in multiple linear regression analyses. This selective association suggests a specialised role for the inferior posterior lobe in motor learning processes. This study reveals the inferior posterior lobe's distinct role in motor learning in patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia, advancing our understanding of cerebellar function and potentially informing targeted rehabilitation approaches. Our findings highlight the value of advanced imaging technologies in understanding structure-function relationships in cerebellar disorders.