Song of the Cerebellum

The podcast explores the cerebellum's role in human cognition and behavior, challenging the traditional view of it as solely a motor control center. Rachel Gross, a science journalist, recounts her personal experience with a cerebellar stroke, which led her to investigate the underappreciated functions of this brain region. The discussion highlights research indicating that the cerebellum is intricately connected to the cerebrum, influencing language, emotional regulation, and complex thought processes. Evidence from evolutionary biology suggests the cerebellum expanded rapidly in apes, potentially playing a key role in human evolution. Ultimately, the podcast considers the cerebellum as essential to the fluidity of thought and action, and therefore, to one's sense of self.