Neurogenesis

PSY-101 General Psychology

Module 2, Short Essay Assignment

Subject: Neurogenesis

June 5, 2015

Page 1 of 3

Neurogenesis

“We’ve always known that our brains control our behavior, but not that our behavior could control and change the structure of our brains.” – Fred Gage (2007).

Neurogenesis, the development of new neurons. Until past the middle of the 20th century, neuroscientists believed that the brain’s physical structure was pretty much fixed for life by the time a person reached early adulthood. This was not only believed widely but it was taught universally as well. Now, it is known that changes to a person’s environment or behavior can lead to structural changes in the brain. (Bryck & Fisher, 2012; Jacobs, 2004). There are two areas where the brain has shown an ability to change its structure and function from one are to another. They are known as Neuroplasticity and Neurogenesis.

Neurogenesis is a truly dramatic example of the brain’s ability to change, the development of new neurons. The first research into this ability was conducted by Elizabeth Gould and her colleagues in 1998. This research showed that adult marmoset monkeys were generating a significant number of new neurons every day in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is critical to the brain’s ability to form new memories and learn. Once the research showed that new neurons could develop in an adult primate brain, the question naturally turned to the question of whether an adult human brain also had the same capacity.

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