Giant neuron around circumference of brain?

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SUMMARY

Scientists have discovered a giant neuron encircling the entire circumference of a mouse's brain, which may provide insights into the origins of consciousness due to its dense connections across both hemispheres. While the human brain features the corpus callosum for inter-hemispheric communication, there is no evidence of a similar giant neuron in humans. The claustrum, a dense cluster of neurons in humans, is hypothesized to play a role in conscious thought but remains a topic of ongoing research. The relationship between these neurons and consciousness is largely speculative and requires further investigation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mouse neuroanatomy
  • Familiarity with the claustrum's role in consciousness
  • Knowledge of the corpus callosum's function in inter-hemispheric communication
  • Basic principles of neurobiology and consciousness theories
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the role of the claustrum in human consciousness
  • Explore studies on the interconnectedness of neocortex regions
  • Investigate the implications of giant neurons in other species
  • Review current literature on consciousness theories and meta-analyses
USEFUL FOR

Neuroscientists, neurologists, and researchers interested in the biological basis of consciousness and the comparative anatomy of brain structures across species.

mieral
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We humans already have a "brain coordination system" with a huge number of neural connections - the corpus callosum. It connects the two hemispheres of the human brain. I don't know mouse neuroanatomy well enough to see why the claim you mention is important. Or even if it is valid. Also there is no single giant neuron than encircles normal human brains. AFAIK.

When I follow links in the original popular science article I find mention of the claustrum in humans, which is thought to be a communications center for conscious thought in humans. AFAIK: This hypothesis is still at the maybe level - it needs a lot more research. However the claustrum is not a giant neuron. It is more like a very dense "glob" of many neurons.

People who are current in this field may want to bring us better updates. Here is a blog by a neurologist discussing the claustrum as the 'seat of conscious thought' from 2008. I would think if this were better validated by now, it would have been in popular science magazines by now.
 
Interesting article.

mieral said:
Could this also occur in human brain?
Sure, it is possible that the human brain could contain similar neurons that are still undetected. It is not however likely to be answered soon using these methods since genetic transformation of humans is not some thing that will likely happen soon.
It would be interesting to see what similar techniques would show in primates like monkeys and chimps. They would be a much better indicator of the human situation than mice due to their closer evolutionary relationships.

The relationship of these neurons to consciousness is largely speculative. It is supported by:
The neurons are in the clustrum and have widespread connections in the brain.
The clustrum, when stimulated (affecting large numbers of cells), affects consciousness.
One way of thinking about consciousness attributes widespread connections importance to the process.

Single cell stimulation of these neurons (in humans) would be interesting to do but probably not easy.
Some people (not me) might contend mice (and lots of other animals) don't have consciousness (which leads to apparently unresolvable arguments).
 
jim mcnamara said:
We humans already have a "brain coordination system" with a huge number of neural connections - the corpus callosum. It connects the two hemispheres of the human brain. I don't know mouse neuroanatomy well enough to see why the claim you mention is important. Or even if it is valid. Also there is no single giant neuron than encircles normal human brains. AFAIK.

When I follow links in the original popular science article I find mention of the claustrum in humans, which is thought to be a communications center for conscious thought in humans. AFAIK: This hypothesis is still at the maybe level - it needs a lot more research. However the claustrum is not a giant neuron. It is more like a very dense "glob" of many neurons.

People who are current in this field may want to bring us better updates. Here is a blog by a neurologist discussing the claustrum as the 'seat of conscious thought' from 2008. I would think if this were better validated by now, it would have been in popular science magazines by now.

Mice also have a corpus callosum. But it only coordinates left and right hemisphere, and you don't need both hemisphere to be conscious anyway. If you read the article, it is the interconnectedness between portions of neocortex, a well as claustrom, that makes Koch think it's relevant to consciousness.
 
There could be, but Koch is always speculating about consciousness so I wouldn't hold my breath.
 

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