November 2, 2024

Brain Connectivity Breakthrough: Similar Neural Network Patterns Discovered Across Diverse Species

These unusually strong connections– understood as “heavy trailed” based on the shape of their circulation– are believed to play an outsized role in brain function.Research on Neural Network ConnectionsResearchers have long questioned how neural networks are able to reorganize to form these rare connections and whether the formation procedure is species specific or governed by a deeper shared concept. Credit: Christopher LynnUnderstanding Strong Neural Connections” To understand these really strong connections between nerve cells, you can believe of a social network: Some connections, like those with your finest buddies and family, are much more powerful than many, and these are extremely crucial in the network,” explains Christopher Lynn, the papers very first author, previously a postdoctoral fellow with the ITS program and now an Assistant Professor of Physics at Yale. The catalogued data, which was collected using volume electron microscopy and high-throughput image processing, permitted them to compare networks across multiple species, looking for similarities and differences in the way heavy trailed connections form.Mathematical Modeling and Key FindingsThe researchers developed a mathematical model to describe how they believed electrical wiring in between neurons can reorganize to establish these strong connections.

These abnormally strong connections– understood as “heavy trailed” based on the shape of their distribution– are believed to play an outsized role in brain function.Research on Neural Network ConnectionsResearchers have long wondered how neural networks are able to rearrange to form these unusual connections and whether the development procedure is types particular or governed by a much deeper shared principle. Credit: Christopher LynnUnderstanding Strong Neural Connections” To comprehend these extremely strong connections in between neurons, you can think of a social network: Some connections, like those with your best good friends and family, are much more powerful than a lot of, and these are very crucial in the network,” explains Christopher Lynn, the papers first author, formerly a postdoctoral fellow with the ITS program and now an Assistant Professor of Physics at Yale. The catalogued data, which was gathered utilizing volume electron microscopy and high-throughput image processing, allowed them to compare networks across numerous species, looking for resemblances and differences in the method heavy trailed connections form.Mathematical Modeling and Key FindingsThe scientists produced a mathematical model to explain how they thought wiring between nerve cells can rearrange to establish these strong connections.