Key Takeaways:
🔹 Neurons may not have fixed identities—environmental factors can change their subtype
🔹 Scientists created large numbers of parvalbumin-positive neurons in 3D brain models for the first time
🔹 Certain inhibitory neurons can transform into other subtypes in the right conditions
🔹 Findings could reshape our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia
Challenging Decades of Neuroscience
For years, scientists believed that once neurons developed from stem cells, their subtype identity (excitatory or inhibitory) was permanent. However, new research from the Braingeneers—a collaborative team from UC Santa Cruz and UC San Francisco—suggests that neurons may be far more plastic than previously thought.
Published in iScience, the study used 3D cerebral organoids (lab-grown brain tissue models) to demonstrate that:
✔ Neuronal identity isn’t completely fixed—environmental cues can influence it
✔ Inhibitory neurons (which regulate brain plasticity) can switch subtypes under certain conditions
✔ 3D models are crucial for accurate brain research (2D models fail to replicate these effects)
“This goes against the idea that neuronal identity is completely stable,” said lead author Mohammed Mostajo-Radji. “It’s making us rethink how neurons are made and maintained.”
Why This Discovery Matters
1. A Breakthrough in Modeling Brain Cells
The cerebral cortex contains:
- 80% excitatory neurons (trigger signals)
- 20% inhibitory neurons (block signals)
Among inhibitory neurons, parvalbumin-positive (PV+) cells are critical—they:
🔸 Control brain plasticity (learning, adaptation)
🔸 Influence neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, schizophrenia)
🔸 Help the brain rewire after injury
For the first time, scientists successfully grew large numbers of PV+ neurons in 3D organoids—a milestone that could revolutionize brain disorder research.
2. Neurons Can Change Their Identity
In a striking experiment, researchers:
- Took somatostatin neurons (another inhibitory subtype)
- Placed them in a 3D organoid environment
- Observed some transform into PV+ neurons
“It’s possible this happens naturally in the brain,” said Mostajo-Radji. “We may have overlooked this plasticity before.”
3. 3D Models Are Essential
Previous attempts in 2D petri dishes failed—only 3D organoids allowed PV+ neurons to thrive.
“This challenges us to rethink how we study brain cells,” Mostajo-Radji noted.
Implications for Brain Research & Medicine
✅ Better Disease Models – More accurate autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy studies
✅ New Therapies – Could we reprogram neurons to treat brain disorders?
✅ Brain Plasticity Insights – Explains how the brain adapts after trauma
“Now, we can make a more realistic model of the brain,” said Mostajo-Radji.
What’s Next?
The team plans to investigate:
🔎 Which genetic pathways enable neuronal identity shifts
🔎 How excitatory neurons influence inhibitory subtypes
🔎 Whether this plasticity occurs naturally in living brains
“This is an exciting window we should explore,” Mostajo-Radji said.
More information: Mohammed A. Mostajo-Radji et al, Fate plasticity of interneuron specification, iScience (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112295
Final Thought
This discovery rewrites neuroscience textbooks—proving that neurons are not static but dynamic, adaptable cells. The findings open doors to revolutionary treatments for brain disorders and deepen our understanding of how the brain learns and heals.
🚀 Follow for more breakthroughs in brain science!
#Neuroscience #BrainPlasticity #StemCells #AutismResearch #ScienceNews
(Source: iScience, Braingeneers at UC Santa Cruz/UC San Francisco)