Most neurons seem to be jacks-of-all-trades, not specialists
There are place cells that fire in response to a particular location, mirror neurons that may help us interpret behaviours and even neurons that respond to all things Jennifer Aniston. These discoveries have encouraged a picture of the brain as a collection of highly specialised cells. But a new discovery suggests that most neurons are actually jacks-of-all-trades.
- ▪There are place cells that fire in response to a particular location, mirror neurons that may help us interpret behaviours and even neurons that respond to all things Jennifer Aniston.
- ▪These discoveries have encouraged a picture of the brain as a collection of highly specialised cells.
- ▪But a new discovery suggests that most neurons are actually jacks-of-all-trades.
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Mind Most neurons seem to be jacks-of-all-trades, not specialistsWe tend to think of the brain as being made up of highly specialised cells, but a study in mice suggests that most neurons are generalists By Nora Bradford 24 July 2026 Facebook Threads X / Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn Reddit Email Print A 3D diffusion-spectrum-imaging scan of bundles of white-matter nerve fibres, parts of neurons called axonsScience Photo Library/Alamy For decades, scientists have been discovering neurons with seemingly unique jobs. There are place cells that fire in response to a particular location, mirror neurons that may help us interpret behaviours and even neurons that respond to all things Jennifer Aniston.
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