Rebuilding cerebellar network computations from cellular neurophysiology

This schematic drawing shows the most relevant connections within a cerebellar module. The mossy fibers contact granule cells (GrC) and deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) cells which, in turn, receive inhibition from the same common set of Purkinje cells (PC). Moreover, the interior olive (IO) cells emit climbing fibers that contact DCN cells and Purkinje cells (PC), which also project to the same DCN cells. An activate group of GrCs is in (red), while others (yellow) are laterally inhibited by the GoCs. The active GrCs excite the overlaying PCs (dark red) according to a vertical organization pattern (Bower and Woolston, 1983). The PCs inhibit DCN neurons which in turn inhibit the IO neurons. Note that, within a cerebellar module, different circuit elements communicate in closed loops. The mossy fibers contact granule cells and DCN cells which, in turn, receive inhibition from the same common set of Purkinje cells. Moreover, the IO cells emit climbing fibers that contact DCN and PC, which also project to the same DCN cells.