The study provides new insights into the complexity and large-scale nature of neural networks
Researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and TUD Dresden have been studying the effects of experiences on brain connectivity for some time. But a new study shows just how profound these effects are. These findings on mice offer unprecedented insight into the complexity and plasticity of large-scale brain networks. They could also pave the path for new artificial intelligence methods that are inspired by brains. The scientific journal Biosensors & Bioelectronics published the results, which are based on a new \”brain-on chip\” technology.
Dresden researchers investigated the question of whether an enhanced experience affected the brain circuitry. They used a neurochip, which has more than 4,000 electrodes to detect electrical activity in brain cells. The innovative platform allowed the simultaneous \”firing\” by thousands of neurons. The area covered by the microscope was smaller than a fingernail and covered an entire mouse’s hippocampus. This structure in the brain, which is shared by both humans and mice, plays an important role in memory and learning, making it prime for dementias such as Alzheimer’s. The scientists studied brain tissue of mice that were raised in different ways. The scientists compared brain tissue from mice raised in different environments.
Hayder Amin is the lead scientist in this study. \”The results far exceeded our expectations,\” he said. Amin is a nomputational and neuroelectronics expert who heads a DZNE research group. He developed with his team the technology and tools for this study. \”Simplified one can say that neurons from mice raised in the enriched environment are much more interconnected than those who were raised in standard housing. The richer the experience, no matter what parameter we examined, the more connections were made in neuronal networks. These findings suggest that living an active and varied lifestyle shapes the brain in a whole new way.\”
Source:
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230711/Study-provides-unprecedented-insights-into-the-complexity-of-large-scale-neural-networks.aspx
