Developmentally unique cerebellar processing prioritizes self- over other-generated movements.

For adult animals to produce flexible and adaptive movements, they must distinguish self- from other-generated movements and learn to anticipate how their body moves through space. The computations required for this capacity occur within the cerebellar system. In early infancy, these computations are not yet established and must develop through sensorimotor experience. Here, we found that self-generated movements-particularly those movements occurring during active sleep-are a preferred source of that sensorimotor experience to the infant cerebellum. This preference appears to be unique to the infant cerebellum and helps us understand how that structure establishes its neural circuitry and functions.