Human neurons are strangely more efficient than animal ones
Researchers did not expect to find that human neurons have fewer — not more — ion channels than eight other mammal species do.:
What makes humans different should be straightforward, right? We should, at least, have more complex neurons than ferrets and macaques. But we don’t. We have simpler ones:
News, “Human neurons, brain, much more efficient than animal ones” at Mind Matters News (November 16, 2021)
Neurons communicate with each other via electrical impulses, which are produced by ion channels that control the flow of ions such as potassium and sodium. In a surprising new finding, MIT neuroscientists have shown that human neurons have a much smaller number of these channels than expected, compared to the neurons of other mammals.
The paper requires a subscription.
MIT, “A Striking Difference Between Neurons of Humans and Other Mammals” at Neuroscience News (November 10, 2021)
In the most extensive study of its kind, nine other mammals were studied. Larger mammals have larger neurons. And in every case but one, they found that “as the size of neurons increases, the density of channels found in the neurons also increases.” Except in humans:
[and the researchers were surprised]
Also: What was formerly thought to be “junk DNA” differs between humans and chimpanzees and plays a role in brain development
You may also wish to read: There is no escape from human exceptionalism. Author Melanie Challenger thinks we should embrace our true animal nature. But that’s impossible. Animals can’t reason but humans can’t NOT reason. We just become bad humans by not reasoning. That’s why we are and will remain an exception.
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