Simple spike discharge patterns of Purkinje cells in the paramedian lobule of the cerebellum during locomotion in the awake cat

Purkinje cells in the paravermal cortex of the paramedian lobule in the cerebellum of awake cats have been recorded during locomotion on a moving belt. The discharges of all 35 recorded cells exhibited frequency modulation that was time-locked to the step cycle. Most cells showed increased activity during late flexion or at the onset of the stance phase of the step in the ipsilateral forelimb. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that the role played by the paravermal cortex during locomotion is in the coordination and timing of the transition between the stance and swing phases of the step.