Neurogenesis,
or the birth of new neuronal cells, was
thought to occur only in developing organisms.
However, recent research has demonstrated
that neurogenesis does indeed continue
into and throughout adult life in both
vertebrate and invertebrate organisms.
Examples of neurogenesis are found in
the hippocampus of mammals, song control
nuclei of birds and the olfactory pathway
of rodents, insects and crustaceans.
On going neurogenesis is thought to
be an important mechanism underlying
neuronal
plasticity,
enabling organisms to adapt to environmental
changes and influencing
learning and memory throughout life.
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