Scientists working in Germany and Greece say they have discovered a new form of messaging within the human brain that could radically change our understanding of consciousness.
In a report, the team of researchers say that the signal was discovered in the brain's outer cortical cells and that the signal indicates that neurons may be able to communicate in a way that was previously unknown. This means our entire brain function could be far more powerful than we previously thought.
The investigation was carried out on brain tissue that had been removed during surgery. Neurons manage communication with each other through dendrites, which hang onto the neurons like branches.
Humboldt University neuroscientist, Matthew Larkum, said:
"The dendrites are central to understanding the brain because they are at the core of what determines the computational power of single neurons. There was a 'eureka' moment when we saw the dendritic action potentials for the first time."
Clayton Dickson, of the University of Alberta, said of the findings:
"What is particularly compelling is that the activity could be not only modulated, but also eliminated or even regenerated by imposed electrical fields. Most shockingly, this activity could be transmitted from one side of a surgically severed slice to the other when the two cut edges were simply placed in close proximity. These surprising findings were further supported by a computer model of hippocampal circuitry."
The researchers are now wondering whether this newly-discovered method of internal brain communication only exists in human brains or if it also exists in animals. If the process is also found in animals, it could make long-term research into these processes far easier to understand.
Scientists also believe that should this new form of neuron communication be understood more fully, then the concept could also be applied to computer systems. This could, in turn, result in vastly more powerful computers and even computers that are capable of carrying out human-like thought.
[h/t: Science Alert]
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