Cerebellar response to familiar and novel stimuli: An fMRI study

Abstract

Historically known for its key contribution to motor behavior, the cerebellum continues to break boundaries. Researchers have demonstrated the cerebellum also plays a role in learning, memory, and more recent evidence for contributions in language, attention, working memory, emotions, and social processes. Here, we present a study that adds to the list of nonmotor processes of the cerebellum. We used images of faces and outdoor scenes to examine the cerebellar response to familiar and novel stimuli. Participants were familiarized with a subset of stimuli, and then underwent functional MRI (fMRI) where they were presented with the previously stimuli and new stimuli while making "old" and "new" judgment. In a familiar versus novel contrast, familiar stimuli (faces and scenes combined) activated bilateral regions of the cerebellum including I-IV, V, VI, Crus I, and Crus II. When separated by type, familiar faces had greater activation of bilateral I-IV than novel faces. These results demonstrate the cerebellar role in determining familiarity and contribute to continuing research supporting cerebellar contributions to nonmotor processes. (PsycINFO Database Record