Global Scholars + WIP

Presented by: Caroline Nettekoven 

Abstract: Human cerebellar electrophysiology is poorly understood, hindering our ability to develop closed-loop non-invasive stimulation approaches for cerebellar dysfunction. Animal studies point to cerebellar oscillations as key targets for stimulation. Extending these findings to humans is difficult, since traditional non-invasive recording techniques cannot measure the weak cerebellar electrophysiological signal. Recently, optically pumped magnetometers for magnetoencephalography (OPM) have been developed with 3-5 times higher signal sensitivity, allowing for the first time the non-invasive study of cerebellar electrophysiology in humans.

The aim of this study is to map and characterize the electrophysiological responses of the cerebellum to motor and non-motor tasks. Using a deep phenotyping approach, we will record OPM signals from the cerebellum while healthy participants perform a multi-domain task battery across multiple sessions. fMRI activity during a reduced version of the task battery will be acquired in the same participants using ultra-high field 7T MRI. The participants’ fMRI data will be integrated with a new probabilistic functional atlas to obtain region maps for each individual. These region maps will be used as a prior in a source localization model to identify the functional regions that gave rise to distinct OPM signals. We will test for task-related power change in regions of the cerebellar cortex involved in the task and explore links with behavioural performance.

By combining the OPM-MEG recordings with detailed MRI scans and behavioural data, we aim to identify where in the cerebellum these signals come from, how they relate to behaviour, and how they vary across individuals. The results will help us understand the role of different cerebellar regions in motor and non-motor functions and may provide a basis for developing closed-loop stimulation approaches for disorders with cerebellar dysfunction at its core.