For nearly 150 years, dendrites—the tree-like branches through which neurons receive information—have been pictured as relatively smooth electrical cables. Our new study challenges this textbook view. Using advanced microscopy, we discovered tiny nanoscale bottlenecks, called dendritic shaft constrictions (DSCs), in both mouse and human neurons.
These previously overlooked structures may divide dendrites into electrically distinct compartments, allowing different parts of a dendrite to process synaptic signals more independently. By combining super-resolution and electron microscopy with physiological experiments and computer modelling, the study reveals a new structural principle that may help explain how the intricate architecture of neurons contributes to the brain’s remarkable computing power.
