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Cerebellar function goes beyond the long understood role of
muscular co-ordination. Each cerebellar hemisphere has a
bidirectional relationship with the contralateral hippocampus.
Spatial working memory has been shown to be lateralised,
egocentric memory being held in the right cerebellar hemisphere
and allocentric memory being held in the right. The right cerebellar
left hippocampus (RCLH) deals with experiential memory
forming a street view and LCRH deals with understanding and
forms a map view. Traumatic events are postulated to involve a
sudden change to the map view held in the LCRH. US combat
veterans with PTSD have a right hippocampal volume that is
8% smaller than controls. Co-twins of PTSD patients also have
smaller hippocampi, suggesting a genetic or developmental
predisposition for PTSD. The anatomical connection between the
two cerebellar hemispheres is via the middle cerebellar peduncles
which are juxtaposed around the VIth cranial nerve nuclei. This
juxtaposition is consistent with REM sleep representing middle
cerebellar activity synchronising of egocentric and allocentric
memories for encoding to long-term memory: this offers a
theoretical mechanism by which EMDR has its effect. We
demonstrate a simple exercise to encourage subconscious
allocentric and egocentric synchronisation by identifying the
dominant lateral gaze and using alternate cerebellar stimulation,
after which patients have reported improvement in mood. This
technique can be used following trauma and offered as an ongoing
skill that the patient can continue by brief regular daily use.
Ashworth and Dutton have been using this technique that they
named ‘da Vinci Gaze’ to train professionals (doctors, paramedics
and volunteer therapists) after noting the eye position of the
Mona Lisa. This model using da Vinci Gaze offers promise both
in short primary care situations and for provision of rapid and
effective trauma first aid in mass casualty situations.
Recent Publications
1. Yu W and Krook Magnuson E (2015) Cognitive
collaborations: Bidirectional functional connectivity
between the cerebellum and the hippocampus. Front
Syst Neurosci. 9:177.
2. Iglói K, Doeller C F, Berthoz A, Rondi Reig L and
Burgess N (2010) Lateralized human hippocampal
activity predicts navigation based on sequence or
place memory. PNAS 107(32):14466-14471.
3. Grodd W, Hülsmann E, Lotze M, Wildgruber D
and Erb M (2001) Sensorimotor mapping of the
human cerebellum: fMRI evidence of somatotopic
organization. Hum. Brain Mapp. 13:55–73.
4. Gilbertson M W, S Henton M E, CIsszewski A,
Kasai K, Lasko N B, Orr S P and Pitman R K (2002)
Smaller hippocampal volume predicts pathological
vulnerability to psychological trauma. Nature
Neuroscience 5(11):1242-1247
5. Stoodley C J, Valera E M and Schmahmann J D (2012)
Functional topography of the cerebellum for motor
and cognitive tasks: An fMRI study. Neuroimage
59(2):1560-70.
Biography
Andrew J Ashworth is a General Medical Practitioner with experience of Combat. His interests include rapid neurological management of anxiety on which he has presented at a previous conference. He has graduated from Leeds University Medical School in 1980. He became a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1985. He was a Royal Navy Medical Officer between 1980 and 1994 with experience including combat in the Falklands Conflict and in submarines at sea. He is dual qualified in Occupational Medicine. His special interest is in the treatment of psychological trauma and is qualified in brainspotting as well as CBT. He works as an NHS General Practitioner in Scotland as well as providing occupational medical services and carrying out research on trauma and anxiety.