The Cerebellum: Brain for an Implicit Self

570 Book Reviews outcry against concussions has often come across as an anti-sport chorus. This chapter reinvigorates the debate on the side of that which is important about sports. Dr. Webb wraps up the volume discussing his view of the future of sports neuropsychology. As someone who has been at the nexus of this development, he has a full perspective. He provides valuable insight into the burgeoning legislative initiatives sweeping the country, he calls for policy based on science and for clinicians taking a more active roll in educating the public and stake-holders. Beyond the unique conceptual framework of this volume, the assembled authors provide a series of chapters that are both practical and informative for the interested young professional to the seasoned veteran. While issues related to performance enhancement are not included in this volume (e.g., neuropsychological effects and processes of exogenous and endogenous agents to facilitate performance improvement, the neuropsychology of expertise), both the perspective and the scope of this volume are well conceived and executed. This book provides an important platform for developing expertise in a fascinating and growing field. It is required reading from my students. Arthur Maerlender Pediatric Neuropsychological Services, Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth doi:10.1093/arclin/acs057 Advance Access publication on 26 June 2012 # The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: . The Cerebellum: Brain for an Implicit Self, Masao Ito. New Jersey, Pearson Education, Inc. (2012). 285 pp. The Cerebellum: Brain for an Implicit Self is written by one of the preeminent neuroscientists in cerebellar research. Dr. Masao Ito has been at the forefront of much of the early work on cerebellar neuronal structure and function. In this text, Dr. Ito leads the reader on a historical journey of the cerebellum presented from his own personal experiences and scientific endeavors over more than 50 years of science. He summarizes his own discoveries, as well as those of other scientists. His scientific approach and that of this monograph is one of deconstruction and reconstruction. He applies that approach in the book – decomposing and recomposing the cerebellum to gain a full understanding of the mechanisms and functions of this cortical structure. Dr. Ito begins by breaking the cerebellum down, describing the core neuronal components and synaptic plasticity of the cerebellum. He presents the early conceptualization and understanding of the cerebellum in functioning, which has historically involved primarily coordinated motor control. Dr. Ito then proceeds to systematically build the cerebellum back up from its neural base by presenting a summary of the early discoveries that have advanced the neuroscience of the cerebellum and lead to understanding of function. Extensive descriptions of neuronal network/circuits, reflexes, adaptation, and voluntary control are presented. Dr. Ito offers some insight into the role of the cerebellum in cognition, but in less depth than other topics. Dr. Ito presents a wide scope of topics associated with cerebellar anatomy and function that is detailed, yet readable. Each chapter leads seamlessly into the next and the story of the cerebellum unfolds as the reader proceeds through the book. Dr. Ito’s extensive experience in this field is evident, as is his passion for his work. The title of the book sets the tone for Dr. Ito’s current conceptualization of the cerebellum—one of unconscious adaptation—for not only motor movements, but also higher order cognitive functions, or some combination of the two. This book is an excellent companion to Dr. Schmahmann’s classic 1997 text The Cerebellum and Cognition. Dr. Schmahmann’s book included writing from experts across a wide range of cerebellar function as related to mental control and processes, including executive functions and higher order language production. His presentation of the historical context and anatomy are expanded in Dr. Ito’s text, with a broader focus. A more extensive discussion and presentation of cellular-level anatomy and functions, as well as core cerebellar-based functions supporting neurocognitive processes is presented in this book. Each of these authors has clearly produced a text that focuses primarily on their respective areas of expertise and interest, and again, makes them complimentary. Neuropsychologists and cognitive neuroscientists should consider this a key text for review. While the frontal lobes have remained the focus in considering function and dysfunction in higher order cognitive processes, increasing evidence points to a complimentary role of the cerebellum in these functions (Schmahmann, 2010; Stoodley et al., 2012), and increased Book Reviews 571 understanding and consideration of the cerebellum and its mechanisms may provide a more enhanced and complete conceptualization of presenting problems in clinical populations. Chapter 17, Cognitive Functions, is one of the most clinically useful portions of the book. The discussion of internal mental models and how these models relate to the role of the cerebellum in neurocognitive processes serves as an excellent foundation for conceptualization in clinical practice. These representations are real or imagined situations, which allows an individual to reason and anticipate future events. Dr. Ito closes the book by proposing seven questions he considers crucial in guiding future cerebellar neuroscientific research. Key areas for future analysis that he proposes include molecular, cellular, curcuitry, and behavioral research. Dr. Ito creates an atmosphere of excitement around the cerebellum that is likely to stimulate and excite junior and senior neuroscientists and clinicians alike. References Schmahmann, J. D. (Ed.). (1997). The cerebellum and cognition. International review of neurobiology (Vol. 41). San Diego, CA: Academic Press. Schmahmann, J. D. (2010). The role of the cerebellum in cognition and emotion: Personal reflections since 1982 on the dysmetria of thought hypothesis, and its historical evolution from theory to therapy. Neuropsychological Review, 20, 236 –260. Stoodley, C. J., Valera, E. M., & Schmahmann, J. D. (2012). Functional topography of the cerebellum for motor and cognitive tasks: An fMRI study. Neuroimaging, 16, 1560– 1570. Karin S. Walsh Children’s National Medical Center The George Washington University Medical Center doi:10.1093/arclin/acs054 Advance Access publication on 19 June 2012 # The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: . Handbook of Holistic Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, Outpatient Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury, Yehuda Ben-Yishay, Leonard Diller (Eds.). Oxford University Press, New York, NY (2011). 141 pp + 5 DVD. $139.95. Neuropsychological and cognitive (...truncated)