“Nurogenesis,” or the process of forming new neurons, is known to begin before birth. However, some research suggests that the process may continue throughout a person’s life. (Image credit: CHRISTOPH BURGSTEDT/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images)
The developing human brain gains billions of neurons while in the womb, and adds a few more during childhood. For much of the 20th century, it was thought that the neurons formed before adulthood were the only ones a person would have for the rest of their life. But in recent decades, a growing body of research has challenged that notion.
So, is it really possible that adults can produce new neurons? While some experts claim that there is compelling evidence that humans can grow neurons after childhood, others remain skeptical.
The process of creating new brain cells is called neurogenesis. Researchers have documented neurogenesis for the first time after birth in lab animals of various ages, including mice, rats, and songbirds. In adult mice, they found new neurons arising in areas of the brain collectively called the subventricular zone, which is associated with olfactory function, and in the hippocampus, a structure that plays a key role in memory.
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