The brain exhibits remarkable adaptability and flexibility. Traditionally, it was thought that neurons, or brain cells, were fixed in their specific types and functions once formed. However, a study published in Science in March 2025 by researchers from UC Santa Cruz and UC San Francisco has called this belief into question, revealing that brain cells possess a greater degree of adaptability than previously recognized.

This discovery represents a significant advancement in our comprehension of brain structure and function, demonstrating the brain's ability to alter the types of its neurons to achieve optimal performance.

Types of brain cells

The researchers examined the neuron development with the help of a 3D brain tissue model. As per the researchers, there are two types of brain cells (or neurons). They include excitatory neurons which make up 80% of the neurons and help send signals. And then the remaining 20% are inhibitory neurons, which help regulate brain activity.

Among the inhibitory neurons, 60% are a special type called parvalbumin-positive neurons. They have a crucial role in determining how flexible the brain is. It is important as they influence how a person can learn new languages or adjust their senses. They are also associated with autism and schizophrenia. The scientists grew a large number of neurons in a lab. They added these cells inside miniature brain-like structures and kept them alive. This helped them observe a model that resembles the brain's functioning.

What did the study find?

Now, after introducing the lab-made brain cells in the brain model, they observed a surprising trend. The neurons don't have one fixed identity. It's even more surprising that researchers introduced a different type of inhibitory neuron, called somatostatin neurons, into the 3D model and observed that some of them changed into parvalbumin-positive neurons.

This implies that under certain conditions, even brain cells change, and so do their functions. This is noteworthy as it opens discussions about brain plasticity and how neurons can change their identity based on their surroundings. It opens up doors for more research regarding treatments for brain diseases and treatment strategies.

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