The cerebellum has a striking homogeneous cytoarchitecture and participates in both motor and non-motor domains. Indeed, a wealth of evidence from neuroanatomical, electrophysiological, neuroimaging and clinical studies has substantially modified our traditional view on the cerebellum as a sole calibrator of sensorimotor functions. Despite the major advances of the last four decades of cerebellar research, outstanding questions remain regarding the mechanisms and functions of the cerebellar circuitry. We discuss major clues from both experimental and clinical studies, with a focus on rodent models in fear behaviour, on the role of the cerebellum in motor control, on cerebellar contributions to timing and our appraisal of the pathogenesis of cerebellar tremor. The cerebellum occupies a central position to optimize behaviour, motor control, timing procedures and to prevent body oscillations. More than ever, the cerebellum is now considered as a major actor on the scene of disorders affecting the CNS, extending from motor disorders to cognitive and affective disorders. However, the respective roles of the mossy fibres, the climbing fibres, cerebellar cortex and cerebellar nuclei remains unknown or partially known at best in most cases. Research is now moving towards a better definition of the roles of cerebellar modules and microzones. This will impact on the management of cerebellar disorders.

1st Department of Neurology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and St Anne's Teaching Hospital Brno Czech Republic

1st Department of Neurology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and St Anne's Teaching Hospital Brno Czech Republic 3Department of Neurology School of Medicine University of Minnesota Minneapolis USA

Department of Neurology National Institute of Clinical Neurosciences Amerikai út 57 Budapest 1145 Hungary 5Department of Neurology Semmelweis University Üllői út 26 Budapest 1083 Hungary

Department of Neurology National Institute of Clinical Neurosciences Amerikai út 57 Budapest 1145 Hungary 6János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences Semmelweis University Üllői út 26 Budapest 1083 Hungary

FNRS ULB Erasme 808 Route de Lennik 1070 Bruxelles Belgium 8Service des Neurosciences UMons 7000 Mons Belgium 9Department of Neurology Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Charleroi 6000 Charleroi Belgium Laboratoire de Médecine Expérimentale Site Vésale ULB Unité 222 6110 Montigny le Tilleul Belgium

School of Physiology Pharmacology and Neuroscience Biomedical Sciences Building University of Bristol Tankard's Close University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD UK

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