STUDY: NO NEW CELL GROWTH IN BRAIN'S SOPHISTICATED AREAS

A study conducted by David Kornack, assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy, has found no evidence that adult primates are able to create new neurons in the most sophisticated part of the brain.

The results run counter to a widely publicized study two years ago in which other researchers reported the first discovery of neurogenesis-formation of new neurons-in the neocortex of adult monkeys.

Kornack and his former advisor, neuroscience pioneer Pasko Rakic of Yale University, published their findings in the journal Science.

"As a neuroscientist, oftentimes the first question I'm asked when I meet someone is, 'How can I get more brain cells?' I'm as interested in the question as everyone else," Kornack says. "It's now apparent that although some parts of the primate brain do acquire new neurons in adulthood, the neocortex is not among these regions."

For decades, scientists believed that adult humans and other primates such as monkeys were unable to produce brain cells. In the last few years, several scientists have reported growth of new neurons in adult primates in certain older parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus, which is key to memory, and the olfactory bulb, which is important for smell.

The idea took a giant step forward two years ago when researchers studying adult monkeys reported new neurons growing in the part of the brain that controls sophisticated behaviors such as language and planning.

In their recent study, Kornack and Rakic used the most advanced cell analysis techniques available and found no new neurons despite painstaking analysis of thousands of new cells.

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