Which of the following statements about the neuronal circuit of the cerebellum is true?
1) Climbing fibers originate from the cerebral cortex and terminate on purkinje cells.
2) Mossy fibers establish excitatory synapses with interneurons in the molecular layer.
3) Stellate and basket cells are stimulated by inhibitory inputs from purkinje cells.
4) Golgi cells are inhibited by mossy fiber inputs.
E. All of the above.
📝 Explanation:
Mossy fibers originate from various sources in the brain and spinal cord and terminate on granule cells in the granular layer of the cerebellum. The axons of granule cells, called parallel fibers, stimulate the purkinje cells and also synapse with interneurons such as stellate and basket cells in the molecular layer and Golgi cells in the granular layer. Climbing fibers originate from the inferior olivary nuclei and synapse directly on purkinje cells. The statement that stellate and basket cells are stimulated by inhibitory inputs from purkinje cells is incorrect; they are stimulated by parallel fibers and inhibit purkinje cells. Golgi cells are also stimulated by mossy fibers and help in the regulation of the overall output of the cerebellum.
MCQ