A tug-of-war in nerve cells: How does the complex form of neurons develop?

The structure and function of the brain develops from numerous shape changes, movements and specializations of cells. Changes in the shape of cells are primarily induced via fibrous proteins of the so-called cytoskeleton. These fibrous proteins are shifted by molecular motors, producing forces inside cells. The complex shape of the principal cell type of the brain, the neuron, is generated by concerted interactions of such forces. The emergence of global patterns from fluctuations of independent agents via self-organization plays an important role in this process.