The cerebellum is one of the most fascinating parts of the human brain, due to the fact that it has many functions and numerous studies have pointed out its importance in the system of the human body. The computational functions have always been under constant study, in the idea that the relative simplicity of the the anatomy of this part of the brain will be easily translated into these functions as well. However, the results provided have been rather elusive, but the finality of the research has ended in the identification of four main functionality principles.

The first principle is that of feedforward processing, which refers to the way in which the signal processing is in this part of the brain as opposed to all the others. The signals go through an input – output type of system, which means that they simply transgress the existing portions, without leaving marks or recurrences. The cases in which these occur are very rare. Divergence and convergence is the second principle. This refers to the fact that the number of the inputs received is rather modest. These signals are then taken into the network system of the small brain and are taken out at the end in the form of small number of output signals. This is also the process from which the different types of cells are initiated, as they comprise themselves in order to form new ones. This means that the mossy fiber cells are expanded into granule cells, from which the parallel fiber outputs are transformed into Purkinje cells.

Modularity is the third principle of the cerebellum. The small brain is divided into a series of numerous modules, which each have their internal processes through which they take inputs and release outputs. The module is formed out of a small cluster of neurons in the inferior olivary nucleus, strips of Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex and small neuron clusters in the deep cerebellar nuclei. Plasticity is the last of the principles of the small brain. It mainly refers to the strength of the synapses between various types of cells, fibers and nucleus. The fact that they can modify in strength brings out a sense of plasticity, through which the processes are alleviated. The importance of these principles is connected to the functions of the cerebellum and to the processes of the whole system.  

The functions of the cerebellum have been established on the basis of the affections that can come over them and on the way in which the organism reacts to these damages. The natural progression of understanding the functions and the way in which this part acts has been therefore placed under the research of the damages and of the affections that can happen to the small brain and to its reactions. From these studies, the researchers have been able to pinpoint some of the main functions of the small brain, the way in which they act and process, what are the issues that may affect these functions and how the entire proper and improper functionality can be rendered and treated. 

The main function that has surfaced out of the studies related to the damaging issues of the small brain have been connected with motor control. This means that the small brain is the one that coordinates the motor abilities of the body, in relation with movements of all kinds. Precision, movements, activity are just some of the functions, which have integrated into the general characteristic of the small brain and are also some of the most important ones for the correct activity of the human body in almost all daily instances. Some of the other smaller functions of it, which have been discovered much later on, have been connected to the processing of language, attention and imagery of the brain. Therefore, the small brain is also the one that coordinates some of our most important perceptions in relation to the way in which we conceive, imagine and understand the world around us and its most important factors and activities.

The cerebellum is therefore one of the very important parts of the human neurological system. Without it and its proper functionality, we would not be able to have all the connections made between what we want to do and the motor that helps us transform intention into action. The importance of the motor function, of the attention, imagination and language functions are valuable and vital for the way in which we live our lives, due to the fact that they are the ones to make us live properly in our world. As a result, the health of the cerebellum is one that must always be a priority and any change in the way we perceive these normal functions should be submitted to a medical consult.