A little larger than people's nail, lying long in slumber and not known to the world in the depth of human brain it is the "new continent" found by Chinese scientist after more than ten years' studies. Recognized by international authorities the new area in human brain is discovered to have close connection with the function of memory and study.

As a major creation in recent years in China and a discovery of great importance in global brain science it has shed light on a new way for probing into causes of certain diseases in connexion with studying and memory barriers. It has provided us with a new way for studying on senile dementia and Parkinson's Disease.

Named as "Shu Area" by international authoritative experts the new area is discovered by Professor Shu Siyun from the neuroscience institution of the First Military University of Medical Science.

Of the most complex structure already known in the universe little is known about functions of many areas in human brain. As early as in the 1980s, Professor Shu, when studying motor center under the brain cortex of rat, came to find out that there was a cluster of spindle-shaped cells on the edge of the veined body, forming a special crescent area.

Follow-up studies show that the area also exists in brains of cat, monkey and human beings.

A series of experiments tell that, as an important structure newly discovered in brains of mammals, the area is closely connected with brain activities of studying and memorizing.

As known to everybody, structures functioning study and memory are scattered in different parts of human brain and scientists have been wondering about how they are linked up to function jointly and the "new area" is as found located right in a central position to serve as a hinge!