On the role of the cerebellum in exploiting temporal contingencies:; evidence from response times and preparatory EEG potentials in patients with cerebellar atrophy.

Patients with degenerative cerebellar disease were compared to healthy controls in their ability to adapt behaviour to temporal contingencies, both according to instructions and according to acquired experience. Participants had to press the cued key whenever the inside of a clock face changed its colour, which could occur when the pointer, rotating once every 4s, was at "10h" or at "12h" or at "2h". Probabilities varied between blocks at which of these three time points the colour change occurred, with participants being instructed accordingly.