Final answer:
It is true that if a person has extreme difficulties with tasks such as hitting a baseball or playing piano, it could signify an issue with the cerebellum. The cerebellum is essential for coordinating movements and procedural learning, and impairments can significantly affect one's motor skills and balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that extreme difficulties in learning how to hit a baseball or play the piano may indicate a problem with the cerebellum is true.
The cerebellum is key for coordinating body movements and is involved in procedural learning, which is the type of learning involved when acquiring motor skills such as hitting a ball or playing a musical instrument. This region of the brain helps in learning movements that are practiced repeatedly. When the cerebellum doesn't function properly, it can lead to difficulties in balance and coordination, affecting one's ability to perform motor tasks efficiently.
For instance, the cerebellum works as a comparator in voluntary movement, where it receives information from the motor cortex and provides necessary feedback through the thalamus to refine and correct movements. If there's an impairment in the cerebellum, such as damage or disease, the precise execution of movement can be hindered. Additionally, it adjusts motor commands in response to changing conditions, like when walking in water, highlighting its role in motor adaptation.