Xuanwei Li

When we talk about the human brain, we often picture the adult form – a fully folded cortex, distinct regions, complex circuits, continuous changes and overlapping functions. Yet the story of how this structure emerges is one of the most striking narratives in biology. Early brain development is an orchestrated progression of cellular decisions, migrations, and refinements that begins long before birth and sets the stage for everything that follows. 

We usually think of memory as something that happens only in the brain. But what if it’s not just neurons that can learn? Research by Nikolay Kukushkin suggests that other cells in the body can also adapt and “remember,” using methods like spaced repetition.