%0 Consensus Development Conference
%T Current Opinions and Areas of Consensus on the Role of the Cerebellum in Dystonia.
%A Shakkottai VG
%A Batla A
%A Bhatia K
%A Dauer WT
%A Dresel C
%A Niethammer M
%A Eidelberg D
%A Raike RS
%A Smith Y
%A Jinnah HA
%A Hess EJ
%A Meunier S
%A Hallett M
%A Fremont R
%A Khodakhah K
%A LeDoux MS
%A Popa T
%A Gallea C
%A Lehericy S
%A Bostan AC
%A Strick PL
%J Cerebellum
%V 16
%N 2
%D 04 2017
%M 27734238
%F 3.648
%R 10.1007/s12311-016-0825-6
%X A role for the cerebellum in causing ataxia, a disorder characterized by uncoordinated movement, is widely accepted. Recent work has suggested that alterations in activity, connectivity, and structure of the cerebellum are also associated with dystonia, a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal and sustained muscle contractions often leading to abnormal maintained postures. In this manuscript, the authors discuss their views on how the cerebellum may play a role in dystonia. The following topics are discussed: The relationships between neuronal/network dysfunctions and motor abnormalities in rodent models of dystonia. Data about brain structure, cerebellar metabolism, cerebellar connections, and noninvasive cerebellar stimulation that support (or not) a role for the cerebellum in human dystonia. Connections between the cerebellum and motor cortical and sub-cortical structures that could support a role for the cerebellum in dystonia. Overall points of consensus include: Neuronal dysfunction originating in the cerebellum can drive dystonic movements in rodent model systems. Imaging and neurophysiological studies in humans suggest that the cerebellum plays a role in the pathophysiology of dystonia, but do not provide conclusive evidence that the cerebellum is the primary or sole neuroanatomical site of origin.