vens

VENs, or von Economo neurons, are a distinct type of large, spindle-shaped neuron found in a small number of cortical areas. They were first described by Constantin von Economo and colleagues in the early 20th century and are named after him. In humans, VENs are most densely located in the anterior cingulate cortex and the fronto-insular cortex, regions implicated in social and emotional processing, interoception, and rapid state monitoring.

VENs are characterized by their unusually large cell bodies and streamlined, elongated shape, which distinguishes them from the more widespread pyramidal neurons. They tend to be sparser than other cortical neurons, and their distribution varies across species. In addition to humans, VENs have been reported in some other large-brained mammals, including certain great apes and cetaceans, and possibly in elephants. This restricted distribution has been interpreted as a potential link to social cognition and complex behavioral regulation.

The exact function of VENs remains an area of active research, but they are widely thought to support fast, intuitive processing of social-emotional information. Their strategic location and distinctive morphology suggest a role in rapid communication between distant brain networks involved in empathy, self-awareness, and social behavior, enabling quick judgments in social contexts.

Developmentally, VENs arise during late prenatal stages and increase in number during early postnatal life in humans, with cross-species differences reflecting varying social demands. Age-related changes and vulnerability under certain conditions have also been observed.

Clinically, VENs have been linked to social and behavioral aspects of several disorders. Notably, selective loss or dysfunction of VENs has been reported in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, particularly in the anterior cingulate and fronto-insular regions, which may underlie deficits in empathy and social conduct. Research continues to clarify their role in health and disease.