Newborn neurons play the role of sedative
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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New nerve cells have the ability to calm the brain and level out the impact of stress: it is proved by scientists.
The brain of animals has certain zones in which nerve cells appear throughout life. Similar zones exist in the human brain, although this fact causes a lot of controversy and doubt in the academic environment.
New neurons in an adult are formed in small quantities, but such a process is extremely necessary: newborn structures provide the most important processes of remembering information. In addition, they strengthen the brain in relation to stress, although until now it was not known what specific reactions occur at the same time at the level of cells and impulses.
Scientists representing the University of Columbia, put an experiment on rodents. They observed the formation of new nerve structures in the hippocampus (which is precisely the zone in which neurogenesis takes place). The hippocampus, in addition to many functions, is the main center of memory.
As a response to the use of antidepressants and physical activity, the number of new nervous structures increased. And with the inhibition of neurogenesis, rodents became more susceptible to stress and expressed increased anxiety.
With a normal course of neurogenesis, or with its artificial enhancement, the stress in rodents was stopped faster, they demonstrated better adaptation to new conditions. This scientists have confirmed the anti-stress effect of neurogenesis.
But scientists needed to find out exactly which processes occur in cells. After evaluating the state of old and newborn nerve cells, the researchers found that with a decrease in the number of new neurons in the hippocampus, old cells become active, and with increasing numbers of "newborn" structures, old cells calm down.
If the nervous structures were directly influenced from the external environment, by stimulation or inhibition, the response of the rodents to stress was the same as when stimulating or inhibiting neurogenesis. Consequently, with the compulsory excitation of old cells, the mice acquired a greater stress sensitivity, and when their activity was suppressed, the mice themselves coped quickly and with stress.
In other words, the hippocampal neurons-the old dentate gyrus, where new structures are formed-play a direct role in the development of reaction to a stressful situation. And in order for this reaction to proceed faster and easier, the presence of new neurons, which can reassure the old-timers, is necessary. Most likely, similar processes take place in the human brain. With a high degree of probability when stimulating neurogenesis, you can overcome anxiety and depression - the common effects of stress.
Details of the study are available in the journal Nature, as well as on the page The Scientist (https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/young-brain-cells-silence-oldones-to-quash-anxiety- 64385).
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