Less than 1 percent of neurons orchestrate brain development

It is a sign of enlightenment and sophistication for a country to adopt democratic methods of government. Not so with the brain, it seems! According to research conducted by a team including Jessica Cardin, Ph.D., associate professor in Yale’s Department of Neuroscience, the brain takes a more top-down approach. Just 1 percent of its neurons are responsible for its development. These “VIP” neurons don’t have to worry about gerrymandering or primaries—the other neurons obey their prompting without question or complaint!