title: Pathological Changes of von Economo Neuron and Fork Neuron in Neuropsychiatric Diseases.
abstract: von Economo neuron (VEN) is a bipolar neuron characterized by a large spindle-shaped soma. VEN is generally distributed in the layer V of anterior insular lobe and anterior cingulate cortex. Fork neuron is another featured bipolar neuron. In recent years,many studies have illustrated that VEN and fork neurons are correlated with complicated cognition such as self-consciousness and social emotion. Studies in the development and morpholigies of these two neurons as well as their pathological changes in various neurological and psychiatric disorders have found that the abnormal number and functions of VEN can cause corresponding dysfunctions in social recognition and emotions both during the neuro-developmental stages of childhood and during the nerve degeneration in old age stage. Therefore, more attentions should be paid on the research of VEN and fork neurons in neuropsychiatric diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University,Beijing 100053,China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Neurology,Chinese PLA General Hospital,Beijing 100853,China.
authors.forename: Lu-ning
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research,Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich,Munich D-81377,Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arzberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Neurology,Chinese PLA General Hospital,Beijing 100853,China.
authors.forename: Ming-wei
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders; D009474:Neurons