Australian neuroscientist George Paxinos has discovered a new, previously unknown area in the human brain.

The region, which Prof Paxinos called "Endorestiform Nucleus", is near the point where the brain connects with the spinal cord.

It's located in the lower cerebellum section, an area that integrates and combines sensory and kinetic information to correct the posture, balance and small skillful movements.

Prof Paxinos, a researcher at the Neuroscience Research Australia-NeuRA in Sydney, suspected the existence of the brain area 30 years ago.

He said better detection and imaging methods made it possible to prove its existence.

"There is nothing more enjoyable for a neuroscientist than finding a previously unknown area of the human brain. What is important is that this area is absent in monkeys and other animals. There must be some things that are unique to the human brain beyond its larger size, and this area is probably one of them," he told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA).

"What it remains to be done is to determine the function of this newly discovered brain region. Now that it has been mapped, it will be possible for it to be studied by the wider research community," he added. - ANA