Properties of neurons born in development vs. adulthood

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As recently as a decade ago, few even believed that the adult brain was capable of generating new neurons. Since that time, scientists have shown that not only are new neurons added to the adult brain of many animals, including humans, but they significantly impact neural circuitry as well as behaviour. These advances have changed our view of the brain, from an organ that is fixed and static to one that is moldable and capable of adapting to experience. In the hippocampus, a brain structure involved in learning, the addition of new neurons is important for forming memories. However, we still do not know if they are more important than, or truly different from, pre-existing neurons (born around the time of birth). In fact, since the discovery of adult neurogenesis, there have been many studies showing that even old neurons are more flexible than previously appreciated. This research will therefore directly compare the properties of neurons born in adulthood with those born around the time of birth, in order to better understand the brain's capacity for 'plasticity'. Only when we understand the relationship between young and old neurons, both of which exist in large numbers, can we understand how these circuits in the brain enable us to form memories.