New Study Challenges Belief About Brain Function: Shape Plays a Greater Role Than Connectivity
A recent study conducted by Monash University’s Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health has challenged the long-held belief that interactions between brain regions are the primary factor influencing thoughts, emotions, and actions. The study, which examined over 10,000 distinct maps of human brain activity, found that the overall shape of an individual’s brain has a greater impact on cognitive processes, emotions, and behavior than neuronal connectivity.
Traditionally, scientists have emphasized the importance of complex brain connectivity in understanding how our brains work. However, this groundbreaking research highlights the relationship between brain shape and activity. Lead author Dr. James Pang explains that this discovery simplifies the study of brain function, development, and aging, and could potentially help in understanding diseases such as dementia and stroke.
The study utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study eigenmodes, which are natural patterns of vibration or excitation in a system. The researchers found that eigenmodes obtained from models of brain shape were a stronger anatomical constraint on brain function than those obtained from models of brain connectivity. In other words, the shape of the brain influences wave-like activity that propagates throughout the brain, much like how the shape of a pond influences wave ripples.
These findings have significant implications for our understanding of brain function. Instead of considering brain activity as limited to isolated areas of elevated activity, the study suggests that it involves structured patterns of activity across nearly the entire brain. This challenges traditional approaches to brain mapping, which may only provide a limited understanding of how the brain works.
Moreover, the study opens up new avenues for exploring how the brain contributes to individual differences in behavior and the risk for psychiatric and neurological diseases. By recognizing the importance of brain shape in cognitive processes and emotions, researchers may be able to investigate how variations in brain anatomy and activity contribute to different personality traits, behaviors, and disease susceptibility.
Overall, this research from Monash University’s Turner Institute challenges the prevailing belief about brain function, highlighting the significance of brain shape in influencing thoughts, emotions, and behavior. By understanding the role of brain shape and activity, scientists hope to gain further insights into the complexities of the human brain and potentially develop new approaches for diagnosing and treating neurological and psychiatric conditions.
“Prone to fits of apathy. Devoted music geek. Troublemaker. Typical analyst. Alcohol practitioner. Food junkie. Passionate tv fan. Web expert.”