The Brain's Insulation

A healthy nervous system requires a huge number of different cells, each fulfilling a specialized role in the brain. Oligodendrocytes (pictured here in red and yellow) offer support to neurons (in blue) by insulating their long projections, allowing messages to move quickly between cells. While the oligodendrocyte in red is healthy, the cell in yellow is missing a single gene that inhibits its ability to provide support to surrounding neurons. By studying this gene, researchers hope to enhance knowledge of brain diseases that are characterized by changes in oligodendrocytes, such as multiple sclerosis.

About the Author

Michael W. Richardson

Michael W. Richardson is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York, covering topics ranging from the brain and behavior to the environment.