The human brain has recently come under the spotlight of researchers; where scientists at Stanford University announced a new discovery that this vital organ is made up of two separate organs. Instead of viewing the brain as a single, unified organ, researchers have shown that the human brain consists of two ancient nervous systems that are cleverly positioned alongside each other.
Automatic processes and advanced thinking
These two parts of the brain perform their functions differently. One part, known as the hindbrain, is responsible for controlling automatic functions that are essential for our survival, including breathing, sleeping, regulating heart rate, and feeling hunger. The other part, which includes the forebrain and midbrain, deals with higher-level thinking, such as language, awareness, and abstract reasoning.
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A breakthrough in neurological disease research
Dr. Kyle Lo, one of the authors of this study, stated: "For the first time, we have shown that the front of the brain arises from stem cells that are completely different from those in the back of the brain." This discovery could enable researchers to produce neurons from the hindbrain in the lab and study their functions. These findings could be very effective in research on debilitating diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Researchers examined mouse embryos to gain a better understanding of the brain formation process and found that the hindbrain has a completely different developmental pathway from other areas of the brain. While in the forebrain and midbrain, developing cells express the Otx2 gene, in the hindbrain, these cells express the Gbx2 gene.
This discovery is not only important for treating neurological diseases but could also aid in a better understanding of brain evolution. Dr. Ryan Joukai, a co-author of the study, explained that these findings allow researchers to produce motor neurons from the hindbrain for the first time in the lab, which could be very effective in future research on neurological diseases.
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