Friday, December 23, 2005

New Neurons Take Baby Steps In The Adult Brain

Source: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Date: December 23, 2005

Summary:

In experiments with mice, scientists from Johns Hopkins' Institute for Cell Engineering have discovered the steps required to integrate new neurons into the brain's existing operations. In the first study to show how these "baby" neurons are integrated into the brain's existing networks, the Johns Hopkins researchers show that a brain chemical called GABA readies baby neurons to make connections to old ones.