These progenitor cells themselves differentiate into specific types of neurons. Stem cells can divide indefinitely to produce more stem cells, or differentiate to give rise to more specialised cells, such as neural progenitor cells. When exposed to different chemicals, the cells turn into either neurons (red) or glia (cyan). Each spherical mass, called a neurosphere, is produced by a single stem cell. When stem cells from the brain are isolated and grown in a dish, they continuously divide and create large spherical masses of cells, similar to the two shown here. Neural stem cells can produce new neural cells of any type. During the process, neural stem cells differentiate-that is, they become any one of a number of specialised cell types-at specific times and regions in the brain. The incredible diversity of neurons in the brain results from regulated neurogenesis during embryonic development. The hippocampus, for example, which is a brain region that plays an important role in memory and spatial navigation, alone has at least 27 different types of neurons. The mature brain has many specialised areas of function, and neurons that differ in structure and connections. Neurogenesis is crucial when an embryo is developing, but also continues in certain brain regions after birth and throughout our lifespan. Neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain.
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