The orchestra of movement

In this image by Melika Ghaznavirad, the cerebellum is revealed in all its architectural precision, sculpted by calbindin, a protein marking Purkinje cells, here illuminated in green.

Aligned with remarkable regularity, these majestic cells form a single layer from which emerge vast fan-shaped dendrites, similar to neuronal brushes stretched out to capture sensory and motor signals.

True integration centers, Purkinje cells adjust in real time the finesse of our gestures, the coordination of our movements, the subtle balance of the body in action.

But this harmony can break down. In some ataxias and cerebellar syndromes, loss of calbindin and Purkinje degeneration are among the first signs of a deep-seated motor imbalance.

Visualizing this organization means exploring the cellular foundations of motricity, and understanding how, sometimes, the elegance of gesture is lost.

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