In a groundbreaking discovery, American scientists have found previously unknown neurons in the human brain’s cortex. The function of these neurons is still unclear, but they are located in the most neuron-rich layer of the cortex. The researchers, led by Ed Lein from the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle and Gábor Tamás from the University of Szeged in Hungary, published their findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The newly discovered neurons are very dense and highly branched, and make up around 15% of the inhibitory neurons in the upper cortex.
The location of these neurons suggests that they may play a role in regulating excitatory signals that activate neural networks in the brain. However, this is currently just speculation, as the function of these neurons is still unknown. The researchers also looked for the neurons in mice, but they were not found, raising the question of whether these neurons are unique to humans and may be involved in functions that distinguish us from other animals. The researchers plan to investigate this further by examining brain samples from deceased donors with neuropsychiatric disorders.
This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the complexity of the human brain and the differences between human and animal brains. It also raises the possibility that these neurons may be involved in certain diseases or disorders. As Ed Lein notes, “We don’t know what makes the human brain so special. Examining differences at the cellular and circuit level is an important start. Now we have new tools to do just that.” This discovery is a significant step forward in our understanding of the human brain and its functions.
