Plausible function of Golgi cells in the cerebellar cortex

✍ Scribed by Takashi Nagano; Osamu Ohmi

• Book ID: 104740858
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1978
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 675 KB
• Volume: 29
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0340-1200
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00364010

✦ Synopsis

The function of Golgi cells in the cerebellar cortex is quantitatively examined in consideration of the nonlinear input-output characteristics and convergence and divergence numbers of cells. It is strongly suggested that the two signal paths to Golgi cells have different function. The feed-forward path will have the same function as assumed in the previous theories of the cerebellar cortex, that is, to keep the firing rate of granule cells approximately constant over considerable variation in the firing rate of mossy fibers. The feedback path will, on the other hand, have a new function Which has not been assumed in the previous theories. The function is to cause oscillation of the firing rate of granule cells for stationary mossy fiber inputs. The assumption of the new function enables us to explain cerebellar function to keep stationary posture.