Essentials of Cerebellum and Cerebellar Disorders: A Primer for Graduate Students

This monograph, now in its 2nd edition with 31 new chapters and significant updates, is the first book of its kind written specifically for graduate students and clinicians. The monograph is based on the 4-volume treatise, Handbook of the Cerebellum and Cerebellar Disorders (Springer, 2013; 2^nd edition: 2022), the definitive reference for scientists and neurologists in the field of cerebellar neurobiology and related areas.

There have been fundamental advances in the basic science and clinical neurology of the cerebellum and its role in sensorimotor function and cognition. Essentials of the Cerebellum and Cerebellar Disorders makes this large and expanding body of knowledge readily accessible to trainees and clinicians alike. It is organized into easy to read and short chapters that are ideal for students and clinicians. The most common cerebellar disorders encountered in the clinic are covered. The editors are world leaders in the field, and the chapters are authored by an international panel of experts drawn from cerebellar laboratories and ataxia clinics throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

Essentials provides a solid grounding in the field of cerebellar research and ataxiology from cerebellar cellular biology and circuity to clinical practice, and it serves as a springboard to a deeper appreciation of both the principles and the complexities of cerebellar neurobiology. Clinicians are expected to have a deep appreciation of cerebellar disorders, not only in specialized ataxia clinics but also in adult and pediatric neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and neuropsychology practices, and in outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation settings. This book is an indispensable resource for students and practitioners navigating the evolving field of cerebellar motor and cognitive neurology. It also links to the more expansive Handbook for those who need to explore the topics in this monograph in greater depth.

International panel of editors: The 6 editors collectively have extensive experience in the basic science and clinical neurology of cerebellar disorders.  They are all international leaders in the field of ataxiology, and highly regarded teachers in their respective institutions as well as at national and international conferences.  Their stewardship of this volume and their influence on their students and trainees will contribute to the popularity and dissemination of this book. 

International panel of authors: The editors gathered an international field of authors to contribute to this volume.  Located in leading academic medical centers and universities throughout the USA, Europe, and Asia, this panel of scientists and clinicians includes world leaders in their respective fields.  Many of these have contributed authoritative chapters to the Handbook, and the invitees include both seasoned investigators as well as talented younger clinician scientists.

Donna Gruol, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research Institute, and adjunct Associate Professor in the Neuroscience Department, University of California at San Diego. Dr. Gruol obtained a PhD from the Illinois Institute of Technology and did postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland Medical School, The National Institutes of Health, and The Salk Institute. She has been a member of several NIH grant review panels and has served on journal editorial boards and advisory committees. Her primary research interests are on neuroadaptive changes in CNS neurophysiology produced by neuroinflammatory factors and drugs of abuse at the molecular to systems levels.

Marco Molinari, MD PhD (Neurologist, Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, PhD in Neuroscience) is the Director of Neurorehabilitation 1 and Spinal Center at IRCCS  Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome. The Department integrates Neuroscience research and clinical neurological rehabilitation units. Research activities span from basic science approaches in animal models to clinical investigations with special focus on cerebellar function and pathology. Dr. Molinari is author of over 250 articles published in indexed journals. He is Review Editor of The Cerebellum. His cerebellar research activity has been focused on cerebellar role in cognition and theories on cerebellar operational modalities. Dr. Molinari served as  member in several European grant review panels.

Ying Shen, PhD, is a QiuShi distinguished professor of Zhejiang University and a national distinguished young investigator of China. He obtained a PhD from Zhejiang University and completed postdoctoral training at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is a member of NSFC grant review panels and has served as editorial board member of several scientific journals. His primary research interests are on cerebellar regulation on motor and mental diseases and cellular and circuitry mechanisms.

Noriyuki Koibuchi, MD, PhD. Is a Professor of Department of Integrative Physiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine. He obtained MD. and PhD. from Gunma Universtiy, followed by postdoctoral training at the Rockefeller University, New York. He has been serving as a Secretary General of The Society for Research on the Cerebellum and Ataxias. He is an Associate Editor of The Cerebellum and Frontiers in Endocrinology. His research interests are the molecular mechanisms of thyroid/steroid hormone actions on brain development and the modulation of environmental chemiclas on its process.

Jeremy D. Schmahmann, MD, FAAN, FANA, FANPA is Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and at the Massachusetts General Hospital he is a Senior Clinical Neurologist,Founding Director of the Ataxia Center, Director of the Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, and a founding member of the Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit.  He graduated with distinction from the University of Cape Town Medical School, and completed Postdoctoral Fellowship in neuroanatomy with Professor Deepak Pandya at the Boston University School of Medicine.  Dr. Schmahmann is a member of the National Ataxia Foundation Medical and Scientific Research Advisory Board, executive member of the Society for Research on the Cerebellum and Ataxias, and a member of the Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxia, the Ataxia Global Initiative, and the Global Multiple System Atrophy Working Group.  Dr. Schmahmann's clinical and research programs played a pioneering role in discovering the contribution of the cerebellum to neuropsychiatry, and to elucidating the cerebral and cerebellar substrates of movement, cognition and emotion.

Mario Manto, MD, PhD, is Neurologist and Professor of Neuroanatomy at the University of Mons. He is also teaching the Pathophysiology of the Nervous System in adults and in children. He is focusing his research on cerebellum and cerebellar disorders. He is the founding Editor of the journal The Cerebellum (Springer Nature) and co-founder of the Society for Research on the Cerebellum and Ataxias. He has received several research grants from international agencies including the NIH and European Commissions. He is author, co-author or co-editor of several books on the cerebellum. He has served on several grant review panels.