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Professor George Paxinos of Neuroscience Research Australia discovered a hidden region of the human brain.
The endorestial nucleus is located near the junction between the brain and the spinal cord. Image credit: George Paxinos, Neuroscience Research Australia.
The newly discovered region, called the endorestiform nucleus, is located in the lower cerebellar peduncle, an area that incorporates sensory and motor information to refine our posture, balance, and fine motor movements.
Professor Paxinos suspected it existed three decades ago, but he has only seen it since now thanks to better coloring and imaging techniques.
"The endorestiform nucleus is intriguing because it appears to be absent in the rhesus monkey and the other animals we have studied," said Professor Paxinos.
"This region could be what makes humans unique outside of our larger brains."
"I can only guess at his function, but given the part of the brain where he was found, he could be involved in controlling fine motor skills," he added.
The discovery of the region is described in detail in the latest work by Professor Paxinos titledHuman brainstem: Cytoarchitecture, Chemoarchitecture, Myeloarchitecture. '
This could help researchers search for cures for diseases such as Parkinson's disease and motor neuron
Neuroscientists conducting research on neurological or psychiatric diseases use Professor Paxinos' maps to guide their work.
Professor Paxinos' cerebral atlases are considered the most accurate at identifying brain structures and are also used in neurosurgery.
"Professor Paxinos' atlases, which have detailed morphology and connections to the human brain and spinal cord, provide an essential framework for researchers to test hypotheses ranging from synaptic function to treatments for brain diseases." said Professor Peter Schofield, executive director of Neuroscience Research Australia.
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George Paxinos, Teri Furlong and Charles Watson. Human brainstem: Cytoarchitecture, Chemoarchitecture, Myeloarchitecture. Academic Press, 2019; ISBN: 9780128141847
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