Under what circumstances will a human neuron divide?

Question

I read somewhere that a mature neuron loses its ability to divide, except for very specific situations. I was unable to find the description of those situations. What are they?(I'm sorry I'm not saying where I read that, but I simply can't find it.)

Answer 1

Hi!!

Neurons in the hippocampus divide! But most of them die off after a couple of days. Exercise, learning, and certain foods may keep them alive!

Neurons in the olfactory bulb may also divide!

Most do not divide!!!

The term for this is neurogenesis!

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

This is true - for the most part neurons become "permanent" cells and typically don't replicate in adults. Since neurons are extremely specialized cells that interact uniquely with one another, it makes some sense that they don't continually replicate, rather they undergo small changes to either enhance or reduce their signals (in this sense the brain is "plastic" - i.e. it has some flexibility). There are a few exceptions, however, including in the olfactory bulbs (your neural network involved in smell) and in certain areas of the brain associated with memory formation and learning (such as the hippocampus). These areas are capable of generating new neurons because they contain a small number of surviving neural stem cells (like the ones that gave rise to the entire brain in embryogenesis).