Cerebellar sequencing for cognitive processing

The idea that cerebellar processing is required in a variety of cognitive functions is well accepted in the neuroscience community. Nevertheless, the definition of the cerebellar role in the different cognitive domains remains obscure. Current data on perceptual and cognitive processing from lesion studies in humans and from experimental lesion studies in rats are reviewed with special emphasis on cerebellar sequencing properties. Evidence converges in highlighting sequence detection as the keystone of cerebellar functioning across modalities. The hypothesis that sequence detection might represent the main contribution of cerebellar physiology to brain functioning is presented and discussed.