Climbing fiber

Climbing fibers are components of the central nervous system that originate from the inferior olivary nucleus in the medulla oblongata and ascend to the cerebellum. They are named for their distinctive pattern of growth, which resembles a climbing vine.

Anatomy

File:Climbing fiber.png

A diagram showing the location of climbing fibers in the cerebellum

Climbing fibers are unique in that each fiber forms multiple synaptic contacts with a single Purkinje cell. This extensive innervation allows for a high degree of synaptic integration and is thought to play a critical role in the modulation of cerebellar output.

Function

Climbing fibers carry information about the unexpectedness or error of a movement, which is used to adjust future movements. They are involved in motor learning and the fine-tuning of motor coordination. When a movement error occurs, the climbing fibers fire, causing a complex spike in the Purkinje cells. This complex spike is thought to signal the error to the cerebellum, which then adjusts the output of the Purkinje cells to correct the movement.

Clinical significance

Damage to the climbing fibers can result in a variety of neurological disorders, including ataxia, a lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, and dysmetria, a lack of ability to judge distance or range of movement.

See also

• Purkinje cell
• Inferior olivary nucleus
• Cerebellum

References

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