The Cerebellum Modulates Attention Network Functioning: Evidence from a Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Attention Network Test Study

Mannarelli, Daniela; Pauletti, Caterina; Currà, Antonio; Marinelli, Lucio; Corrado, Alessandra; Chiaie, Roberto Delle; Fattapposta, Francesco · 2019 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01014-8

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Summary

This study investigates the role of the cerebellum in modulating attentional network functioning, specifically addressing whether this subcortical structure influences the alerting, orienting, and executive networks defined by the Posnerian model. While the cerebellum is traditionally associated with motor control, recent evidence suggests involvement in higher cognitive functions. The researchers aimed to determine if transient modulation of cerebellar activity affects the efficiency of these attentional networks in healthy subjects. The study employed a double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover design involving 25 healthy right-handed participants. Subjects underwent three randomized sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the left cerebellar hemisphere: anodal (excitatory), cathodal (inhibitory), and sham. Each session was separated by at least six days. Attentional performance was assessed using the Attention Network Test (ANT) before and after stimulation. The ANT measures network efficiency through reaction times (RTs) influenced by cue types (alerting and orienting) and flanker conditions (congruent vs. incongruent targets). Statistical analyses included repeated-measures ANOVA to evaluate changes in network efficiency scores and overall RTs across conditions and timing. The results indicated that alerting and orienting network efficiencies remained stable across all stimulation conditions. However, the executive network was significantly affected by cathodal tDCS. Specifically, cathodal stimulation led to a significant reduction in executive network efficiency, evidenced by increased subtraction scores post-stimulation compared to pre-stimulation. This impairment was driven by a failure to reduce RTs for incongruent targets (conflict signals) during task repetition, whereas RTs for congruent targets decreased normally. In contrast, anodal and sham stimulations showed stable executive efficiency and significant RT reductions for both congruent and incongruent targets, indicating a standard learning effect without cognitive disruption. No significant differences were found in self-reported attention, fatigue, or pain across sessions. These findings demonstrate that the cerebellum plays a specific role in the executive attentional network, particularly in processing conflicting stimuli and error detection. The impairment observed under cathodal inhibition suggests that cerebellar activity is necessary for the efficient discrimination of incongruent signals. The authors propose that the cerebellum supports executive function both directly, by generating sensory predictions and error signals, and indirectly, by regulating the activity of cortical areas involved in conflict monitoring, such as the prefrontal cortex. This study provides causal evidence for the cerebellum’s contribution to cognitive control and attentional processing beyond motor coordination.

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• attention selective divided