Functional significance of adult neurogenesis.
'Function' is the key criterion for determining whether adult neurogenesis - be it endogenous, induced, or after transplantation - is successful and has truly generated new nerve cells. Function, however, is an elusive and problematic term. A satisfying statement of function will require evaluation on the three conceptual levels of cells, networks, and systems - and potentially even beyond, on the level of psychology. Neuronal development is a lengthy process, a fact that must be considered when judging causes and consequences in experiments that address function and function-dependent regulation of adult neurogenesis. Nevertheless, the information that has been obtained and published so far provides ample evidence that neurons generated in the adult can function and even suggests how they might contribute to cognitive processes.
Kempermann
Gerd
G
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch and Volkswagenstiftung Research Group at the Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Wiskott
Laurenz
L
Gage
Fred H
FH
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology