BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Social Connections
25 October 2016

Social Connections

Williams Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that can result in learning difficulties. This condition can cause a host of medical problems, with the most common symptoms including heart defects, distinctive facial features, and delays in neurological development. Despite this, people with Williams Syndrome are known to be very social, but also anxious. To get a clearer insight into how this genetic difference can vastly affect behaviour, researchers programmed neural cells (donated from children with Williams Syndrome) in a dish in the lab to form networks to mimic a developing cortex of the brain. They found that these neurons failed to replicate at a high level, reducing the overall surface area of the cortex. The neurons also made more complex connections to other neurons than the team expected (pictured). These findings could underlie the behaviour seen in people with Williams Syndrome. And improve our understanding of human behaviour in general.

Written by Katie Panteli

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.