Study Suggests New Structure of Brain Neurons

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Facts

  • A new study out of the University of California, San Diego, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine suggests a new "pearls on a string" structure for the axons of brain cells, challenging the traditionally accepted smooth and cylindrical one.[1][2]
  • Axons are strands extending out of the neurons, carrying electrical signals to terminals where they exchange information with axons of neighboring neurons.[3]
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine scientist Shigeki Watanabe said axons are the cables "enabling learning, memory, and other functions.”[4]
  • According to the scientists, the "pearls on a string" morphology, also called "nanopearling," is partly caused by membrane mechanics and cytoskeletal dynamics, such as membrane tension, bending rigidity, and osmotic pressure.[2][5]
  • The scientists used high-pressure freezing to preserve the imaging of the neurons, with some experts citing this as a potential cause of the pearl-like structure — which has also previously been detected in those with neurodegenerative diseases and dying brain cells — saying that what the team observed was merely a result of cell damage.[2][3][6]
  • They named the pearl-like beading "non-synaptic varicosities," in contrast with the traditional synaptic varicosities. They will next examine human axonal "arms."[6]

Sources: [1]IFLScience, [2]Nature, [3]Science, [4]Tech Explorist, [5]Neuroscience News and [6]Medicalxpress.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Allen Institute. The brain defies comprehension not just because of its staggering complexity, but because we’re still grasping at shadows to define its essence. Each discovery — whether from mice, octopuses, or artificial models — only deepens the enigma, underscoring how little we know. Even the best scientists are often chasing an ever-shifting horizon.
  • Narrative B, as provided by The Washington Post. The brain's mysteries may be as vast as its capabilities, but every new understanding — like the peals on a string axonal structure — is a step ahead. While this ever-unfolding complexity proves we're still at the dawn of discovery, the brain is leading us toward infinite possibilities. Relentless research is our only compass in this neurological journey.