Ep 201: Beyond the neuron

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Beyond the neuron

The neuron is not the only type of brain cell. From a celebrity missing body parts, to human cells in a mouse brain, we take a look at your glia.

Here’s a video about the brain, that includes the animation I mentioned in the episode, and information on your Glia.

A Blueprint for the Human Brain

Here’s a simple and quick article about human Glia being placed into mice.

The smart mouse with the half-human brain

Here’s a less simple, less quick article about the same experiments.

Forebrain engraftment by human glial progenitor cells enhances synaptic plasticity and learning in adult mice

Here are a couple of articles about Einstein’s brain.

The Tragic Story of How Einstein’s Brain Was Stolen and Wasn’t Even Special

The strange afterlife of Einstein’s brain

I said that myelinization is an invention of the vertebrates. Well, there are exceptions. It wasn’t in the show, but it’s interesting—something on the evolution of myelination that includes a couple of invertebrates who’ve come up with the same trick.

Myelin Evolution