A study led by Dr. Richard Naud at the University of Ottawa reveals how dendrites, the neuron's antennas, control the variability in neuronal responses, offering critical insights into biological computation with implications for both neuroscience and AI development. The research provides a mathematical model for simulating neuronal networks with active dendrites, shedding light on the role of dendritic input in shaping the response of neuronal ensembles and offering potential applications in understanding learning, working memory, and theories of attractor states.
A new study challenges the long-standing hypothesis in neuroscience that the soma (cell body) of neurons is the primary computational element in the brain, suggesting that dendrites also play a crucial role. Researchers conducted experiments under non-physiological conditions and found that dendrites control neuron features such as firing frequency and stimulation threshold. This discovery could reshape our understanding of brain states, learning processes, and degenerative diseases. The results call for a re-examination of the origin of degenerative diseases and question the traditional attribution of awake and sleep states to the soma.
Scientists from the University of Chicago have discovered that the prevailing understanding of the connections between Purkinje cells in the cerebellum is incorrect. Contrary to the belief that Purkinje cells have a single main dendrite connecting to one climbing fiber, the researchers found that almost all human Purkinje cells have multiple primary dendrites. Further studies in mice revealed that about 50% of their Purkinje cells also have this complex structure, and of these cells, 25% receive input from multiple climbing fibers that connect with different primary dendrite branches. The findings suggest that the cerebellum's connectivity is more complex than previously thought and may have implications for understanding neurological conditions.
Scientists have discovered a never-before-seen novel signal in the brain called calcium-mediated dendritic action potentials (dCaAPs), which was found in the outer cortical cells of the brain. This new form of cell messaging could provide neurons with another way to carry out their functions, making the brain more like a computer than previously believed. The dendrites, moved by the actions mentioned above, determine the computational power of individual neurons in the brain. The discovery highlights the complexity of the human brain and could have implications for neuroscience research.
Scientists have discovered a never-before-seen novel signal in the brain called calcium-mediated dendritic action potentials (dCaAPs), which was found in the outer cortical cells of the brain. This new form of cell messaging could provide neurons with another way to carry out their functions, making the brain more like a computer than previously believed. The dendrites determine the computational power of individual neurons in the brain, and this discovery only highlights the complexity of the human brain.
