Very Human Neurons

Our special Von Economo neurons

We’re back to neurons this time but not just any old neuron - Von Economo neurons are a class of neurons that only limited intelligent species have, including humans, and in small quantities in specific regions of the brain. Do these neurons contribute to some of these highly intelligent characteristics – in fact do we even know what they do?

I have spoken in other articles of very human areas of the brain such as how the cerebellum has grown (see below), or the functions of the Insula allowing interospection. This is true and I also mentioned Von Ecnomo Neurons (VENs) in my article on the Insula because this is one of the few areas where they are present. Admittedly also, I do exaggerate when I say they are very human neurons because we do know there are limited other species that have them. But this limitation is especially interesting because it is precisely those animals that are considered to have higher intelligence (and higher social functions) that have them, namely dolphins, great apes, and elephants.

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The Mysterious Cerebellum

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More surprising is that until 2015 we had never actually been able to research human VENs in a lab setting. Yes, that is correct it wasn’t until 2015 when the Allen Institute, the world’s leading brain and gene research institute, got a slab of donated brain tissue that included Von Economo neurons and was able to research them in the lab. And then because of their fragility, apparently many exploded with just a gentle touch, were they only able to get recordings from a measly three neurons.