Contributions of the cerebellum for predictive and instructional control of movement

•Cerebellar granule cells encode multiple aspects of routine and learned movements.•Purkinje neurons relay movement kinematics and errors.•Nuclear cells send the primary cerebellar output and instruct ongoing movement.•Nuclear cells also function in learning and planning future movements. The cerebellum with its layered structure and stereotyped and conserved connectivity has long puzzled neurobiologists. While it is well established that the cerebellum functions in regulating balance, motor coordination and motor learning, how it achieves these end results has not been very clear. Recent technical advances have made it possible to tease apart the contributions of cerebellar cell types to movement in behaving animals. We review these studies focusing on the three major cerebellar cell types, namely: granule cells, Purkinje neurons and the cells of the deep cerebellar nuclei. Further, we also review our current understanding of cortico-cerebellar and basal ganglia-cerebellar interactions that play vital roles in motor planning and motor learning.