An article recent published in Cortex suggests that the Cerebellum actually plays more of a role in memory and learning than was previously thought. Scientists know that the cerebral cortex is the part of the brain most often associated with memory and learning, and that most disorders that affect these occur in this brain area.
This new reasearch suggests that amount of gray matter in the cerebellum is a good predictor of intelligence and learning capacity. The most interesting finding from this study is that gray matter volume in the cerebellum predicts general intelligence. However, results differ for men and women, with men showing a stronger relationship between brain volume in the cerebellum and general intelligence.
The cerebellum is most often associated with sensory-motor functions, including balance and timing of movements, but this new article shines light on the fact that the cerebellum also plays an important role in higher-level cognitive abilities. "General intelligence is correlated with many basic aspects of information processing efficiency which I believe depend upon the functioning of the cerebellum, including the speed and consistency of our perceptions and decisions, and the speed with which we learn new skills." This quote is from Dr. Michael Hogan, one of the authors of the study. This news is another step forward in our understanding of the least understood aspects of the brain.
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