Division · one in each half of the brain
Posterior lobe of the cerebellum
Also called Cerebrocerebellum (its side parts)
The cerebellum's large back part, polishing skilled moves and even helping you think.
The posterior lobe is the large back part of the cerebellum, including much of its two big side bulges. It is in constant contact with the thinking and planning areas of the cortex, by way of the pons. It helps plan and time skilled movements like writing, speaking and playing music. Studies of people with damage here show it also helps with language, working memory, planning and emotion.
Where it is
The large back and lower part of the cerebellum, behind the primary fissure. Its two side halves, the cerebellar hemispheres, bulge out to the left and right.
What it does
Planning skilled moves
It helps plan the order and timing of complex movements before they happen, like your fingers on a keyboard.
Clear, fluent speech
It coordinates the fast mouth and tongue movements that turn your thoughts into smooth words.
Keeping time
It helps get the timing of movements right, from clapping along to a song to catching a ball.
Thinking and feeling
Parts of it team up with the prefrontal cortex for working memory, planning, language and emotion.
Think of it as a rehearsal coach who has watched every performance you ever gave and whispers timing tips before you even start.
Works with
- PonsSignals from almost the whole cortex pass through the pons and then cross over into this lobe.
- Dentate nucleusIts big side parts send their output through the dentate nucleus.
- Ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamusFrom the dentate, messages travel through this relay in the thalamus back up to the cortex, closing the loop.
- Dorsolateral prefrontal cortexIt forms loops with this planning region, which may help keep thinking smooth and well-timed.
- Primary motor cortexIt helps the motor cortex turn plans into precise, well-timed commands.
When it goes wrong
Clumsy, shaky reaching
Damage on one side makes the arm and leg on that same side clumsy. The hand may overshoot targets and shake more as it gets close.
Slurred, choppy speech
Words can come out slurred or in an uneven, broken-up rhythm.
Thinking and mood changes
Damage here can cause trouble with planning, finding words and controlling emotions. Doctors call this cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome.
For learning only, not medical advice. If you have a health concern, talk to a doctor.
Surprising facts
- Quickly flipping your hand palm-up, palm-down is hard for people with damage here, so doctors use it as a simple bedside test.
- The side parts of the cerebellum, which take in signals from the cortex, are especially well developed in primates such as apes and humans.
Where the name comes from
"Posterior" is Latin for "further back". Its side parts are also called the cerebrocerebellum, because they take in so many signals from the cerebral cortex.
Learn it in a lesson
- The cerebellumSmooth, balanced, well-timed movement. A short guided lesson in 3D.
Quick quiz
3 questions. Your answers are saved and come back in your daily review.
Which of these is a job of the posterior lobe?
Show the answer
Planning skilled moves. It helps plan the order and timing of complex movements before they happen, like your fingers on a keyboard.
Planning skilled moves. It helps plan the order and timing of complex movements before they happen, like your fingers on a keyboard.
The posterior lobe is part of which larger structure?
Show the answer
Cerebellum. It belongs to the cerebellum.
Cerebellum. It belongs to the cerebellum.
Which part fits this description? "Like a rehearsal coach who has watched every performance you ever gave and whispers timing tips before you even start."
Show the answer
Posterior lobe. It is the posterior lobe. The cerebellum's large back part, polishing skilled moves and even helping you think.
Posterior lobe. It is the posterior lobe. The cerebellum's large back part, polishing skilled moves and even helping you think.
These parts now come back in your daily review, just before you would forget them.
Practice it and its neighbors in 3DSources
- Organization of the Cerebellum, Neuroscience, 2nd edition (Purves et al.), NCBI Bookshelf
- Review: The Cerebellum and Cognition, Massachusetts General Hospital
- 16.5 The Coordination and Gait Exams, OpenStax, Anatomy and Physiology 2e
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Explore the posterior lobe of the cerebellum in 3D
Turn it around, zoom inside and see how it connects to the rest of the brain, then test yourself with quick quizzes.
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