Acute selective necrosis of the granular layer of the cerebellum (NGL) was demonstrated in 264 patients out of a total of 1000 autopsies. The relatively high incidence of NGL was distributed evenly over the main groups of causes of death, and over all age groups, with the exception of children under the age of 10 years, in whom the incidence was lower. The lack of correlation between NGL and any particular disease makes it difficult to put forward a plausible explanation of the necrosis. In view of recent studies it is concluded that NGL develops after death.