New Study Shows Brain Cells May Continue to Grow in Adults
Oct. 14, 1999 (Indianapolis) -- New research reported in the Oct. 15 issue of the journal Science shows that the brain actually regenerates cells that are used for learning and memory, at least in the macaque monkey. This is the first evidence in mammals that the adult brain continues to make the nerve cells involved in higher functioning.
The traditional view of the adult primate brain is that only during development does neurogenesis (formation of new nerve cells) and synapse (nerve connection) formation occur in the area of the brain responsible for complex thought processes, write lead author Elizabeth Gould and colleagues from the department of psychology at Princeton University.
Neurogenesis in adult brains is found among lower vertebrates and even in areas of mammals' brains that are involved in more primitive functioning, according to the researchers. And even though there is widespread formation of new nerve cells in the brains of birds, even in areas of the brain similar to mammals, there is no convincing evidence of nerve growth in the brains of adult mammals. In fact, in primates, there is strong evidence against it.
Gould and colleagues from the department of psychology at Princeton University injected 12 monkeys with special drugs that act as a marker for cells that are still growing. By checking on the monkeys at various times following the injections, they were able to locate growing cells at different places in the brain as well as estimate the cells' ages.
In animals that were examined two hours after a single injection of the marker, labeled cells were found only deep in the brain. In those monkeys who received many injections and were followed for between one and three weeks, the researchers found evidence that cells were migrating from this deeper zone to areas at the front of the brain and near the temples -- areas that are often associated with thought. Using other techniques, the researchers were able to establish that these new cells had become mature nerve cells capable of transmitting information as needed.
These results suggest that in the adult monkey, this deep zone of the brain is the source of additional populations of new nerve cells that migrate to regions involved in higher functioning such as learning and memory, according to Gould and colleagues.
New Study Shows Brain Cells May Continue to Grow in Adults
Oct. 14, 1999 (Indianapolis) -- New research reported in the Oct. 15 issue of the journal Science shows that the brain actually regenerates cells that are used for learning and memory, at least in the macaque monkey. This is the first evidence in mammals that the adult brain continues to make the nerve cells involved in higher functioning.
The traditional view of the adult primate brain is that only during development does neurogenesis (formation of new nerve cells) and synapse (nerve connection) formation occur in the area of the brain responsible for complex thought processes, write lead author Elizabeth Gould and colleagues from the department of psychology at Princeton University.
Neurogenesis in adult brains is found among lower vertebrates and even in areas of mammals' brains that are involved in more primitive functioning, according to the researchers. And even though there is widespread formation of new nerve cells in the brains of birds, even in areas of the brain similar to mammals, there is no convincing evidence of nerve growth in the brains of adult mammals. In fact, in primates, there is strong evidence against it.
Gould and colleagues from the department of psychology at Princeton University injected 12 monkeys with special drugs that act as a marker for cells that are still growing. By checking on the monkeys at various times following the injections, they were able to locate growing cells at different places in the brain as well as estimate the cells' ages.
In animals that were examined two hours after a single injection of the marker, labeled cells were found only deep in the brain. In those monkeys who received many injections and were followed for between one and three weeks, the researchers found evidence that cells were migrating from this deeper zone to areas at the front of the brain and near the temples -- areas that are often associated with thought. Using other techniques, the researchers were able to establish that these new cells had become mature nerve cells capable of transmitting information as needed.
These results suggest that in the adult monkey, this deep zone of the brain is the source of additional populations of new nerve cells that migrate to regions involved in higher functioning such as learning and memory, according to Gould and colleagues.