In the newborn brain, neurons travel from place to place. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

In the newborn brain, neurons travel from place to place.

10.10.2016

During individual development, constant cell migrations occur in the embryo - precursor cells of some tissue or organ crawl to a certain place in order to organize this very organ there. The same thing happens in the brain: just before they are born, a huge number of precursors of neurons come to the cerebral cortex, which mature here into ordinary nerve cells, which form nerve centers, chains, etc.

However, all cells that are formed as a result of migration in the later stages of pregnancy become the so-called excitatory neurons. But besides them, there should be inhibitory neurons, whose task is to suppress the signals of other cells. Inhibition neurons are extremely important: without them, excitatory nerve cells would simply never be able to stop - for example, they would continue to send a contractile signal to a tense muscle.

Without neural inhibition, the nervous system is threatened with overexcitation, which can manifest itself in improper functioning of the muscles, and in emotional instability, and in general in behavior. And in the cerebral cortex, of course, along with neurons of excitation, there are neurons of inhibition. Only neuroscientists could not understand for a long time where they come from - if all the progenitor cells that came here became excitatory.

Researchers from the University of California at San Francisco managed to unravel this mystery - inhibitory neurons in the human cortex appear here after the second wave of cell migration, which occurs - most importantly - after birth. In the brain, as you know, there are several areas where cell reproduction occurs. One of these places is the subventricular zone, which is located in the walls of special cavities - the ventricles of the brain, and which is quite far from the cortex.

Mercedes F. Paredes and her colleagues analyzed post-mortem brain samples from children aged between one day and 7 months and found that neurons located in that part of the subventricular zone, which is especially rich in blood vessels, travel along these same blood vessels until they reach the frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex. (When talking about traveling neurons, it should be remembered that, although they already look very similar to young inhibitory cells, they retain the features of migrating progenitors.)

Traveling neurons do not divide, their goal is to reach their place and finally become an inhibitory neuron (although maturation can take quite a long time, up to several months). Over time, the number of "travelers" drops rapidly, and at the age of seven months only a very small number of cells can be found on the migration path. Obviously, starting their journey, they obey some kind of signals, cellular and molecular, and now we have to find out what these signals are - it is possible that many neuropsychiatric diseases subsequently develop because some inhibitory neurons went astray during their postnatal migration .

It is known that new nerve cells appear in animals and in the adult brain, and one of the centers of adult neurogenesis is the aforementioned subventricular zone. However, few people expected to see such a massive migration of neuron precursors, which takes place - we emphasize once again - after birth. And even more so, moving to such an area as the cerebral cortex, which is associated with higher cognitive functions and whose neural pathways are of the highest complexity.

<< Back: Samsung Embedded Smart Home Appliances 11.10.2016

>> Forward: D-Link NetDefend UTM DFL-870 Firewall 10.10.2016

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Women need more time to sleep 16.11.2023

The female body requires a slightly different attitude towards sleep, given its impact on physical and mental health. A new scientific discovery will help better understand the individual sleep needs of each gender and highlight the importance of supporting a healthy rest routine for women.

In the latest study, British scientists from the Sleep Research Center at Loughborough University have solved the mystery of why women need more time for healthy sleep compared to men.

The study's findings indicate that the structure of neural connections in the female brain is more complex compared to the male brain. This makes women more multitasking and flexible in decision making.

However, these qualities require additional energy expenditure, and good sleep becomes an integral element of replenishing this resource. Experts say that both sexes should allocate 7-8 hours of sleep per day, but for women the norm is 20 minutes more.

Differences also appear in the body's reaction to lack of sleep. In women, this condition is more difficult to experience, accompanied by depression and increased irritability. In men, lack of sleep generally affects concentration.

In women suffering from lack of sleep, blood clotting worsens, which increases the risk of vascular diseases. Representatives of the fair sex suffer from insomnia more often than men. While, according to scientists, women who sleep enough show a higher level of intelligence.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews