New form of neuronal communication is discovered in the human brain

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New form of neuronal communication is discovered in the human brain

We don’t quite understand how our own brain works – it is actually quite a big mystery. However, scientists are improving our knowledge of our central nervous system all the time. 

For example, now researchers from the University of Helsinki and Aalto University, in collaboration with the University of Glasgow and the University of Genoa, have identified a new functional coupling mechanism between neurons in the human brain.

High-frequency oscillations over 100 Hertz synchronised between neuronal groups with a similar architecture of brain structures across subjects. Image credit: Scientificanimations.com via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

When you read about the brain, you always see “this part is responsible for…”, “this is a centre of…” and similar descriptions, suggesting that each area of the brain is highly specialized. However, in order to work properly these parts have to communicate with each other. These neurons have to be interlinked somehow. And now scientists have identified a novel coupling mechanism linking neuronal networks by using human intracerebral recordings. And it has something to do with neuronal oscillations.

Neuronal oscillations regulate the communication between neural networks. They synchronize different brain regions and pace neuronal groups. Interestingly, just like when we talk about computers, scientists can describe frequencies of these oscillations. For example, high-frequency oscillations (over 100 Hertz) are known to indicate the activity of small neuronal populations. Up until now it’s been thought that this is basically a local phenomenon. However, this new study demonstrated that high-frequency oscillations over 100 Hertz synchronize across several brain regions.

Scientists now know that these oscillations  that occur in individual frequency bands carry out specific tasks. They constitute a new means of neuronal communication and essentially convey ‘information packages’ from one small neuronal group to another. Although this phenomenon was observed before in local areas of the brain, it is the first evidence of the transmission and reception of such information packages in a broader context. This discovery will help research the brain and figure out how information processing is altered in brain diseases. Which means that a lot of studies are still ahead.

Brain is just a huge puzzle for us. Communication between different areas of the brain is very complicated and has to be coordinated in a very specific and very accurate way to work at all. How does it even work? Because we are brains studying brains, it might take a long time till we can say with confidence that we have a fundamental understanding of our own brain.

Source: University of Helsinki

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