€ 155
Still questions? Contact us
Spindle neuron necklace | 18K gold vermeil
The customer who chose this spindle neuron necklace in gold vermeil as a gift called it gorgeous and meaningful. It was for a graduation, the kind of day that deserves something she can keep wearing long after it.
Who It's For
- someone graduating, as a gift that keeps the memories of the day
- a researcher who works on attention, or on how brain networks talk to each other
- a psychologist or cognitive scientist
- yourself, if these cells are part of your own work
The Brain Network Where Spindle Neurons Sit
In 2007 William Seeley and colleagues scanned people lying still in an MRI scanner, doing nothing in particular. Even at rest, activity rose and fell together across groups of brain regions. One group, which they named the salience network, is anchored in the anterior cingulate and frontoinsular cortex, the two regions where spindle neurons, also called von Economo neurons, are concentrated. In a 2010 model by Menon and Uddin, the network acts as a switch: when something stands out, it helps the brain move between turning inward and attending outward. What the cells add is not yet known. A 2020 study found their gene activity resembles that of neurons that, in mice, send signals to the brainstem and spinal cord.
Explore Related Neuroscience Jewelry
- spindle neuron necklace | silver
- neuron necklace | gold vermeil
- purkinje cell necklace | gold vermeil
- astrocyte necklace | gold vermeil
FAQ
How big is the pendant, and how does it sit?
The pendant is 37 mm long (about 1.5 inches), nearly 13 mm longer than a US quarter is wide. It hangs from a small ring at the top on a 45 cm (17.7 inch) gold vermeil chain with a 5 cm (2 inch) extender, and sits below the collarbone. Extra chains for layering are sold on this page: 40, 42, 45 or 50 cm with a 5 cm extender, or 80 cm without. Gold vermeil is 2.5 microns of 18K gold over solid sterling silver, nickel-free and hypoallergenic.
Is there a silver version?
Yes. The same 37 mm spindle neuron pendant comes in sterling silver, on a 45 cm silver chain with a 5 cm extender. Choose the finish the recipient already wears. The design is the same in gold vermeil and silver. The neuron necklace in gold vermeil is a separate design, at 39 mm.
Will it arrive in time, and what if it isn't right?
DHL Express delivers free in 1-5 business days worldwide, and we pay the import duties and taxes, so nothing is due at the door. It arrives in a ready-to-gift jewelry box and festive envelope. If it isn't right, our 30-day “Love It or Return It” policy applies.
Which apes have spindle neurons?
All the great apes, according to a 1999 study led from Mount Sinai in New York by Esther Nimchinsky and Patrick Hof, with John Allman of Caltech. They looked in the anterior cingulate cortex of 28 primate species, from lemurs and lorises to macaques and gibbons. Only humans and great apes had the cells: rare in the orangutan, frequent in the gorilla, abundant in chimpanzees, bonobos and people. The bonobo pattern came closest to ours. Francis Crick communicated the paper to PNAS. Later work found similar cells beyond the apes.
Neuroscience
Dive into the intricacies of the human mind with our neuroscience-inspired jewelry collection. Each piece is a tactile ode to the neural networks that shape our thoughts, memories, and consciousness. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, our designs mirror the dendritic branches and synaptic connections that form the basis of mental activity. With these elegant pieces, wear the enigma of cognition close to your skin, offering a subtle yet profound exploration of what it means to be sentient.
Find your perfect fit: measure an Existing Ring
Finding out your ring size at home is a simple process and can help you shop for jewelry online with confidence.
Necklace length guide
