Multidimensional cerebellar computations for flexible kinematic control of movements

Abstract

Both the environment and our body keep changing dynamically. Hence, ensuring movement precision requires adaptation to multiple demands occurring simultaneously. Here we show that the cerebellum performs the necessary multi-dimensional computations for the flexible control of different movement parameters depending on the prevailing context. This conclusion is based on the identification of a manifold-like activity in both mossy fibers (MF, network input) and Purkinje cells (PC, output), recorded from monkeys performing a saccade task. Unlike MFs, the properties of PC manifolds developed selective representations of individual movement parameters. Error feedback-driven climbing fiber input modulated the PC manifolds to predict specific, error type-dependent changes in subsequent actions. Furthermore, a feed-forward network model that simulated MF-to-PC transformations revealed that amplification and restructuring of the lesser variability in the MF activity is a pivotal circuit mechanism. Therefore, flexible control of movement by the cerebellum crucially depends on its capacity for multi-dimensional computations.