Publication Date:
2019
Description:
〈p〉Although most mammalian neurons are born prenatally, there are at least a couple of specialised niches in the adult rodent brain that continually generate new neurons throughout life. The potential functions conferred by this process of adult neurogenesis, however, remain obscure, despite a sizeable literature exploring the links between alterations in neurogenic capacity and changes in behavioural ability. A new study by Bragado Alonso 〈i〉et al〈/i〉 (〈cross-ref type="misc" refid="embj2019101589-bib-0001"〉2019〈/cross-ref〉) offers a novel viewpoint on this question by describing a particularly clean way to manipulate adult neurogenesis. Specifically altering cell cycle dynamics in adult neural stem cells leads to an increase in new-born neuron production without altering those extra cells’ morphological or functional properties. Moreover, mice with boosted adult neurogenesis are significantly better at discriminating highly similar sensory stimuli.〈/p〉
Print ISSN:
0261-4189
Electronic ISSN:
1460-2075
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
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