Engineering Biomedical Systems Class Blog

Eric Shine
Engineering Biomedical Systems
July 23, 2008

The brain doesn't grow new cells


There is a common belief in our society that our brains do not regenerate neurons. It has always been thought that we are born with all of the brain cells we re ever going to have (all 100 billion or so). Also that a human brain cannot regenerate brain cells in adulthood and that memory works by the growth of axon and dendrite connections. This idea of neurogenisis has been supported by years of research by neuroscientist. According to a study done by Princeton neuroscientists they used chemical tracers in an adult macaque monkey brain to track brain activity. The researchers found a rim-like layer of stem cells that covered over the ventricles of the brain. Theses stem cells produced as steady stream of neurons, which floated to the cortex of the brain, specifically the frontal lobe and parietal lobe. As an extension to this research, these neuroscientists want to be able to control the placement of these neurons to help treat diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. But, to be able to do this research, neurogenisis needs to be confirmed in humans.
More and more research is being done in this evolving field of neurogenisis. Some scientist even believe that neurogenisis occurs more efficiently under certain environmental conditions, more nutrients for cell growth. Even though the full effects of neurogenisis has not been understood, scientist are making ground breaking discoveries to understand more about the brain.


References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurogenesis
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061223092924.htm
http://www.brainlightning.com/regen.html