Can the brain grow more cells and thus, out number the current number of cells?

Answer 1

Technically it is possible to promote cell growth on most levels...in fact a cannabinoid compound produced in laboratories (derived from marijuana) has been proven to promote brain cell growth in rats...although this has not yet been tested in humans under the same conditions. There is also things like steroids and hormones that can be utilized to promote growth. Generally speaking, your body has "shut-off" points witch tell it "enough" when growing...however we have also seen cases such as giantism where cells grow abnormally, grossly enlarging the body...if one could determine how to control this then , yes, technically you could make your brain "physically" bigger, however you also have to wonder how much functionality would go along with the mass created. :) Write me back.

Answer 2

Recent discoveries in tests on primates have shown that the brain does in fact generate new cells. It was found that the brain even does this in the cerebral cortex, the most complex part of the brain, good news indeed, this gives researchers increased hope to repair past brain damage cases.

While it has not been proven that new generated cells will be more in number than the ones that have died over the same period. It is not the number of cells that would make us smarter if this gain condition did occur. There are synapses, many hundreds of them connected to each cell, their ability to function correctly will be the deciding factor if you get smarter or quicker in thinking.

Considering that there are more brain cells in you than there are stars in our universe, you would have to generate a whole bunch to impact your grade in English Class. :)

FYI: Neurons, Glial and Epithelial are the three brain cells. The Glial feed the Neurons nutrients, the Epithelial make up the blood cell lining, Neurons get all the fun brain jobs and use the synapses in volume to make it all happen.

Answer 3

The generation of brain cells (called neurons) that will eventually form the cortex begins about 7 weeks after conception and is largely complete by 20 weeks. Neurogenesis (the process by which brain cells are made) is largely finished at about 5 months of gestation (about the time of fetal viability-this is also a time of great vulnerability to injury the idea being that injury is better dealt with during neurogenesis because new neurons could also replace damaged ones). It is said that neuronal stem cells create about twice as many neurons as the newborn brain requires-neurons that will eventually need to be pruned (note that neurogenesis is said to continue throughout life in the hippocampus (Gould, Reeves Graziano & Gross, 1999) but it is unclear what role those neurons play as they do not appear to be stable).

Answer 4

Unfortunately No, What little brain cells that we have is all we get, if that was the case that our brain could grow more cells to replaced lost or damaged cells then all the people out there with brain problems would be cured.

Answer 5

No the brain is one of the few organs that never regenerates new cells...it can however remap itself if one portion of the brain is damaged to a minor extent. This remapping takes time however and follows along the same lines as a baby growing up, so it may appear as if the brain is regenerating new cells when it is not.

Answer 6

You grain does grow new cells up until about age 20 or 25, perhaps. After that, the brain begins to shrink - it's all down hill from there. Be kind to your brain - don't abuse drugs and alcohol.

There have been unsubstantiated studies that show vigorous exercise stimulating brain cell growth (see link below).



:)

Answer 7

Basically you have a limited amount of brain cells. The brain is one of the few organs that does not continually regenerate with new cells. That is why people with brain injuries or strokes do not regain full function.

Answer 8

The brain gains more weight and physical mass as it develops from infancy into adulthood,increasing the capacity for learning induced by brain cell growth.

Answer 9

It only grows as to the effect of replacing dying cells.

Answer 10

no