2011 Prince of Asturias Science Awards announced

The 2011 Prince of Asturias Prize for Investigation, Science and Technology was awarded Wednesday to Joseph Altman, Arturo Alvarez-Buylla and Giacomo Rizzolatti for their work in discovering the regeneration of neurones in adult brains.

The discovery of neurogenisis saw the trio secure the unanimous vote of the jury, which sat in the Spanish city of Oviedo.

Altman discovered neurogenisis in adult mammals in the 1960's, advancing knowledge of how the learning process works.

Alvarez-Buylla, meanwhile, identified the inherent mechanisms that lead to the production of new neurones as well as finding clues to the origin of brain tumors.

Rozzolati discovered mirror neurones, which act when a mammal carries out an action or observes an action formed by another and are considered to be one of the most important recent discoveries in science.

The Prince of Asturias Awards are given every year in Spain in various areas, ranging from sports, to science and letters.

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