Properties of neurons born in development vs. adulthood

发育过程中出生的神经元与成年神经元的特性

• 批准号: 436112-2013
• 负责人: Snyder, Jason
• 金额: $ 2.55万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=665535
• 关键词: Properties; neurons; born; development; vs.

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.

就在十年前，几乎没有人相信成年人的大脑能够产生新的神经元。从那时起，科学家们已经证明，不仅包括人类在内的许多动物的成年大脑中增加了新的神经元，而且它们还显著影响了神经电路和行为。这些进步改变了我们对大脑的看法，从一个固定不动的器官转变为一个可以塑造并能够适应经验的器官。在参与学习的大脑结构--海马体中，新神经元的增加对形成记忆非常重要。然而，我们仍然不知道它们是比先前存在的神经元(出生时出生)更重要，还是真正不同。事实上，自从成人神经发生被发现以来，已经有许多研究表明，即使是年迈的神经元也比之前认识到的更灵活。因此，这项研究将直接比较成年期出生的神经元和出生时出生的神经元的特性，以便更好地了解大脑的“可塑性”能力。只有当我们了解了年轻神经元和老年神经元之间的关系，这两者都大量存在时，我们才能理解大脑中的这些电路是如何使我们形成记忆的。