The Adult Brain Does Grow New Neurons After All, Study Says

A new study points toward lifelong neuron formation in the human brain's hippocampus, with implications for memory and disease. From a report: For decades, scientists have debated whether the birth of new neurons -- called neurogenesis -- was possible in an area of the brain that is responsible for learning, memory and mood regulation. A growing body of research suggested they could, but then a Nature paper last year raised doubts. Now, a new study published today in another of the Nature family of journals -- Nature Medicine -- tips the balance back toward "yes." In light of the new study, "I would say that there is an overwhelming case for the neurogenesis throughout life in humans," Jonas Frisen, a professor at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, said in an e-mail. Frisen, who was not involved in the new research, wrote a News and Views about the study in the current issue of Nature Medicine.

Comments

I was always suspicious of this

[SuperKendall]

We all know people who are life-long learners, who have changed what they do successfully mid-life and go on to great success.

How could any of that really be possible if it was not possible to essentially re-wire your brain?

What I do think it true is that if you don't keep a focus on learning, on creating new connections, that like the rest of your body the brain can start to become rigid and inflexible and maybe truly loses the ability to create new neurons. But it's not true for everyone and just like even modest exercise helps the body, a modest amount of learning can keep the brain pliable.

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[Aighearach]

What I do think it true is that if you don't keep a focus on learning, on creating new connections, that like the rest of your body the brain can start to become rigid and inflexible and maybe truly loses the ability to create new neurons.

That's like claiming that if your muscles atrophy, maybe they won't grow back.

If you don't spend time learning things, continually, you just turn into an idiot. You don't get any excuse, like your brain can't learn anymore; being that sort of idiot remains a continual choice.

If the brain is no longer "pliable" in that way, it merely means the subject is literally brain-dead and it is time for their family to make some hard decisions.

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[Locke2005]

No, Trump was SMART: he picked better parents than you did!

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[SirAstral]

"How could any of that really be possible if it was not possible to essentially re-wire your brain?"

Well, this is NEW neurons, not remapping per se...

But yea, you are mostly on target here with your post. The ability for neurons to grow and remap are a key components to our intelligence as well, one of the major hurdles for any real Artificial Intelligence and why I ignore AI alarmists, including Hawking until we develop the tech where physical processors can remap themselves. Software just is not enough to replace that incredibly important function.

Besides, how often does Science get it wrong? The science is almost never settled... but at least we learn more along the way.

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[Krishnoid]

Pliable, not so much -- the problem with growing new neurons at that age is that they're kind of stringy, so the thinking you get out of them is old and crotchety and has kind of a gamey feel to it.

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[Darinbob]

Rewiring doesn't necessarily require new neurons.

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[SirAstral]

Until I see new information that indicates otherwise I have a high degree of certainty that Software is not enough. We may not be able to point to a hard drive in our own brains, but there does seem to be some kind of an OS at work here with a storage medium and computational structure we are only just beginning to understand.

The primary reason that remapping by hardware is required is so that the software can process more efficiently. If software has to overcome the limitations of the hardware then we begin to introduce major lags in processing. Each section of the brain has RISC like processing dedicated to certain skills, sensory, knowledge, understanding, and logic. But also shows CISC like adaptability as we also have evidence of an area of the brain remapping to perform other tasks not originally processed there. This does not even account for the limitations that Binary places on our mechanical computing capacities. Our neurons communicate in more that just binary, in fact we are not even entirely sure how many "bits" our neurons do communicate in.

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[SirAstral]

more like because old folks run slower, from a zombies perspective... its fast food!

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[xluap]

...............
Each section of the brain has RISC like processing dedicated to certain skills, sensory, knowledge, understanding, and logic. But also shows CISC like adaptability as we also have evidence of an area of the brain remapping to perform other tasks not originally processed there. ...................

The brain must be some sort of FPGA

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[alex67500]

Actually Neurogeneis would equate to AI being able to spawn new CPUs... Not impossible, but you'd have to wire your AI to the CPU plant. Or something.

Re:I was always suspicious of this

[Hognoxious]

You're saying he won due to the general craptitude of the Dems and their campaign. Those are factors not under his control and events he didn't cause.

How is that *not* luck?

oh good.

[WindBourne]

I can go back to Drinking and Playing Hockey.

Is the growth rate fast enough?

[DickBreath]

Do adults grow new neurons as fast as they destroy them?

Does the global cumulative intelligence always remain a constant?

For my entire geezerly life...

[Anonymous Coward]

it has been "settled science" that the adult human brain grows no new neurons.

Now we are told that this is wrong?

Is coffee good or bad for me this week?
Is chocolate going to extend my life this year even though last year it was going to make me senile?
It was also settled science that ulcers came from stress and coffee.... until it was discovered they were caused by a particular bacteria.
The appendix was an unneccessary and non-functional "vestigial organ", a leftover of evolution.... until it was discovered to be a safe place the body preserves and stores useful bacteria to re-populate the digestive tract when needed.

ah, but it's settled science that we must stop using petroleum and transfer much of the wealth of first world countries to unproductive disfunctional third world countries within the next 12 years, or the world will end.

Re:Really?

[PPH]

Where neurons go to die.

Re:actually

[phantomfive]

There's been strong evidence since at least ~2001 that neurons can be grown in adult humans. If you felt it was settled science, you haven't been paying attention.