The hidden influence of the cerebellum: Investigating cerebellar structure and cognitive abilities.

Background: Recent years have seen increased acknowledgment of the cerebellar involvement in cognitive and social functions. However, comprehensive studies examining multiple cognitive functions in healthy individuals are scarce, largely due to challenges in identifying cognitive performance differences between subjects. Our study addresses this gap by investigating cerebellar structure, microstructure, and various cognitive functions in a large group of healthy participants to better understand the cerebellum's role in cognition. Methods: Using data from the Welsh Advanced Neuroimaging Database (WAND), we conducted analyses on 157 healthy participants with 3T brain MRI scans and the following cognitive tasks: reaction time; logical memory; vocabulary; matrix reasoning; verbal fluency; impulsive behaviour. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and linear regression were performed to investigate the relationship between gray matter (GM) cerebellar volumes and cognitive performance. Ongoing analyses involve creating combined measures for reaction time and impulsivity, alongside delving into microstructural assessments like diffusion MRI. Results: Preliminary analyses revealed a positive correlation between cerebellar GM volume and measures of Logical Memory, Matrix Reasoning, and Verbal Fluency. The identified cerebellar GM clusters align with posterior cerebellar areas as per its topography. Further ongoing analyses will aim to elucidate the link between cerebellar microstructure and cognitive functions.