Language, learning and the cerebellum

We hypothesize that language learning is subserved by a neural network that is also involved in perceptuo-motor skill learning. The cerebellum is a key component of this network. Patients with cerebellar damage, adults with mild language deficits (dyslexics; expected to have mild cerebellar dysfunction), and controls will take part in artificial language learning and visuo-motor learning experiments. Task performance will be correlated with structural and functional neuroimaging data. We expect a correlation between performance in the two tasks, and a detrimental effect of cerebellar dysfunction in both.