Scientists have identified a unique form of cell messaging in the human brain, revealing just how much we still have to learn about its mysterious inner workings. This discovery hints that our brains might be even more powerful units of computation than we previously realized.
In 2020, researchers from Germany and Greece found a new mechanism in the brain’s cortical cells that produces a novel ‘graded’ signal independently. This could provide individual neurons with another way to perform their logical functions. By examining tissue from epileptic patients and using fluorescent microscopy, the researchers discovered that cortical cells use not just sodium ions to ‘fire’ but calcium as well.
This combination creates waves of voltage called calcium-mediated dendritic action potentials (dCaAPs), which had never been seen before. Neurons typically manage these messages chemically at dendrites, which are crucial for understanding the brain’s computational power.
Dendrites act like traffic lights in our nervous system, determining whether an action potential is significant enough to be passed on. This creates a complex logical system of AND and OR messages in the brain, particularly in the cerebral cortex, which handles sensation, thought, and motor control.
The researchers recorded these signals using a somatodendritic patch clamp, leading to a ‘eureka’ moment when they observed the dendritic action potentials for the first time. Even when they used a sodium channel blocker, the signal remained, only disappearing when calcium was blocked.
This new type of signal suggests that individual neurons can act as ‘exclusive’ OR (XOR) intersections, a function previously thought to require a network solution. This discovery implies that neurons might have more computational capabilities than we thought.
Further research is needed to understand how dCaAPs function across entire neurons and in living systems, as well as whether similar mechanisms exist in other animals. This newfound understanding of our brain’s capabilities could inspire advancements in technology, leading to better hardware development by mimicking our nervous system. The full implications of this discovery will be a subject for future researchers to explore.
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