UCI scientist learn more of brain understanding

While scientists have long understood information passes between brain cells researchers at UC Irvine have discovered the information is also processed on the road in between, also known as the axon.

The discovery adds a new wrinkle to understanding cognitive processes and treating psychological disorders.

As assistant project scientist, Hideki Kawai explained, first imagine a tree. Nutrients in the ground (the information) are sent through the roots (dendrites). From there, the nutrients move up the tree trunk (axon) and diverge out to its extending branches and leaves. We, on the ground, breath in the oxygen released from those leaves, or the relayed message.

The UCI scientists’ discovery, of which also researcher Ronit Lazar took part, means when treating psychological disorders, scientists can now look at the axons when trying to treat the disorder.

The study appears online today on the Nature Neuroscience journal website, at www.nature.com/neuro.

— Joseph Serna