Multiple somatotopic representations in the human cerebellum

Abstract

The classic view of representation in the cerebellum assumes two homunculi, one in the anterior lobe and one in the posterior lobe. Functional imaging has confirmed this somatotopy in the human anterior lobe but not, so far, in the posterior lobe. Using fMRI, we found separate peaks of activation for finger and toe in three ipsilateral cerebellar regions. In both the anterior and posterior lobe, the toe representation was semicircular around the finger area, with peaks of activation aligned in accord with the classic homunculi. Also, segregated peaks of activation were found in the pyramis vermis. These results confirm the existence of a second homunculus in the posterior lobe of the human cerebellum and suggest a third one.