News Neuroscience

Study casts doubt on whether adult brain’s memory-forming region makes new cells

Adults may stop making neurons in the hippocampus, early findings from 54 human brains suggest

hippocampal nerve cells

NO NEW NERVE CELLS  A preliminary study suggests that new nerve cells are not produced in adult humans’ hippocampi, results that conflict with earlier data. Hippocampal nerve cell axons are shown in blue, and glial cells are green. All cells’ nuclei are stained red.

Thomas Deerinck, NCMIR/Science Source

By Laura Sanders

- More than 2 years ago

In stark contrast to earlier findings, adults do not produce new nerve cells in a brain area important to memory and navigation, scientists conclude after scrutinizing 54 human brains spanning the age spectrum.