The Neglect of Recent Research on the Influence of the Cerebellum on Auditory Processing

Classic studies beginning in the 1940s started to demonstrate, in animals, activation of different cerebellar regions following the delivery of auditory stimuli. Stimulation of these cerebellar regions elicits responses in other brain regions known to be involved in auditory processing. Lesions produced in specific cerebellar regions and the use of molecular markers suggest bidirectional connectivity between the cerebellum and the cochlear nucleus. Although such evidence exists, the findings are highly heterogeneous with respect to the vermal and cerebellar hemispheric regions potentially involved in auditory processing. In addition, the evidence is supported predominantly by animal studies, whereas studies in humans are highly scarce and inconclusive. As a result, numerous gaps remain regarding the involvement of the cerebellum in auditory processing, as well as its connectivity and the effects of these connections on other encephalic structures that also participate in this processing. Given the lack of recent studies on the influence of the cerebellum on auditory processing, there is a neglect in the study of this function, which has potential as a field of research.