Norepinephrine in the Cerebellum

Although the presence of norepinephrine (NE) in the mammalian cerebellum was initially controversial, there is now substantial evidence of a role for the NE system in modulating the response properties of individual cerebellar neurons to synaptic inputs rather than transmitting moment-to-moment details of modality-specific information. As a result of these cellular actions, the noradrenergic system is capable of regulating cerebellar circuit functions within the context of ongoing voluntary and reflex motor activities and in a manner appropriate to the behavioral state of the organism. The evidence for this mode of operation derives from extensive anatomical, physiological, and pharmacological investigations over a period of more than 50 years. This chapter summarizes those studies and the development of this concept. Implications for developmental disorders and pathological conditions involving the cerebellum are also discussed.