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Scientists have found a new region of the brain
that only humans have - and they believe it could be what makes our species
unique. The new region is called Endorestiform Nucleus
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Scientists have found a tiny new region of the
brain that only humans have - and they believe it could be what makes our
species unique.
Researchers say the incredible find could help
find a treatment for Parkinson's and motor neurone disease. For thirty years
scientists - who have likened the discovery to finding a new star - suspected
this region existed but were unable to see it.
Professor George Paxinos from Neuroscience
Research Australia (NeuRA) found the hidden region. He was able to find the
region, called the Endorestiform Nucleus, thanks to better staining and
imaging techniques.
'The region is intriguing because it seems to be
absent in the rhesus monkey and other animals that we have studied. This region
could be what makes humans unique besides our larger brain size', he said.
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For thirty years scientists - who have likened
the discovery to finding a new star - suspected this region existed but were
unable to see it
|
The region is found near the brain-spinal cord
junction. This is an area that integrates sensory and motor information to
refine our posture, balance and fine motor movements.
'I can only guess as to its function, but given
the part of the brain where it has been found, it might be involved in fine
motor control,' said Professor Paxinos.
The discovery of the region may help researchers
explore cures for diseases including Parkinson's disease and motor neurone
disease.
●For thirty years, researchers suspected this region existed but could not see it ●Scientists found the region thanks to better staining and imaging techniques ●The discovery of the region may help researchers explore cures for diseases
●For thirty years, researchers suspected this region existed but could not see it ●Scientists found the region thanks to better staining and imaging techniques ●The discovery of the region may help researchers explore cures for diseases
Parkinson’s disease affects one in 500 people,
and around 127,000 people in the UK live with the condition. It causes
muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, tremors, sleep disturbance, chronic
fatigue, an impaired quality of life and can lead to severe disability. Motor
neurone disease is when specialist nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord
called motor neurones stop working properly.
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Professor George Paxinos
from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) found the hidden region. He was
able to find the region, called the Endorestiform Nucleus, thanks to better
staining and imaging techniques
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Neuroscientists researching neurological or
psychiatric diseases already use Professor Paxinos' maps to guide their work. His brain atlases are heralded as the most
accurate for the identification of brain structures and are also used in
neurosurgery.
'Professor Paxinos' atlases showing detailed
morphology and connections of the human brain and spinal cord, provide a
critical framework for researchers to test hypotheses from synaptic function to
treatments for diseases of the brain,' said Professor Peter Schofield, CEO at
NeuRA. He is the author of the most cited publication in neuroscience and
another 52 books of highly detailed maps of the brain.
The maps chart the course for neurosurgery and
neuroscience research, enabling exploration, discovery and the development of
treatments for diseases and disorders of the brain.
His new findings are revealed in his latest book, Human Brainstem: Cytoarchitecture, Chemoarchitecture, Myeloarchitecture.
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The discovery of the region may help researchers
explore cures for diseases including Parkinson's disease and motor neurone
disease
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