Definition for View source for Inferior olivary nucleus

The inferior olivary nucleus is the largest nucleus situated in the olivary body, part of the medulla oblongata.

It is closely associated with the cerebellum, meaning that it is involved in control and coordination of movements, sensory processing and cognitive tasks likely by encoding the timing of sensory input independently of attention or awareness. Lesions to the inferior olive have been associated with a decreased ability to perfect highly specialized motor tasks, such as improving one's accuracy in hitting a target with a ball. There is some evidence that it is stimulated by ghrelin.