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Our knowledge of cerebellar functions and cerebellar disorders, called ataxias, is increasing considerably. Studies of the cerebellum are now a central focus in neuroscience. During the last four decades, many laboratories worldwide have dedicated their research activities to understanding the roles of the cerebellum in motor control, cognitive processes and biology of mental processes, behavioral symptoms, and emotion. It is now accepted that the cerebellum acts as a cognitive operator in learning, perception, and attention. Moreover, major improvements in our assessment of in vivo cerebellar architecture using imaging techniques have occurred. A typical example is the accurate description of cerebellar anatomy during fetal development with MRI, a progress which has direct impacts on patient care. These advances have been associated with discoveries of new clinical disorders, in particular in the field of genetic ataxias. More than 20 new genes have been identified these last 10 years. Only for dominant ataxias, more than 30 diseases have now been unravelled. The number of ataxic disorders will increase with aging, the cerebellum being the structure of the brain with the most important loss of neurons with age. More than 300 different cerebellar disorders are encountered during daily practice, but we are missing a single source of information explaining their pathogenesis. Despite the immense amount of knowledge acquired about the cerebellar circuitry these last years, a large book covering the neuroscience of the cerebellum is missing. The goal of this endeavour is to bring up to date information relevant for basic science and also for clinical activities. To reach this goal, the most renowned authors are gathered in a unique and in-depth book with a format of a handbook. We emphasize the connections between molecular findings, imaging features, behavioural/neuropsychological aspects, and clinical implications.

​Dieses Buch bietet eine Übersicht über ein vernachlässigtes Gebiet der Neurologie: Funktionelle Störungen bedingen jeden sechsten Praxisbesuch und etwa 10% der Notfälle und stationären Aufnahmen an neurologischen Kliniken. Dennoch sorgen sie oft für diagnostische Verunsicherung und therapeutische Ratlosigkeit.Praxisnah und evidenzbasiert erläutert der Autor Untersuchungstechniken und klinische Zeichen, die eine frühe und sichere Diagnosestellung jenseits des Ausschlussprinzips möglich machen. Neue Erklärungsmodelle, die Neurophysiologie und Psychosomatik zusammenbringen, verdeutlichen die Entstehungsmechanismen funktioneller Symptome und die Wirkungsweise verschiedener Therapien. Tipps zur ärztlichen Gesprächsführung sowie konkrete Behandlungsempfehlungen aus der Physiotherapie und Psychotherapie sollen die interdisziplinäre Patientenversorgung erleichtern.