14 DAY TRIAL // When children are born, their brains are far from the organizational complexity the adult cortex is renowned for. Their nerve cells (or neurons) are interconnected very loosely, and experts determined in previous studies that they continuously searched for other cells to bind to. But scientists were very curious to learn more about the mechanisms governing this organization process, which sets the foundation for the development of complex neural networks that will, in turn, lead to the emergence of the fully organized brain later on in life. The key element of the interactions between the numerous neural networks in the cortex is interactivity, LiveScience reports.
In a new scientific paper published in this week's issue of the esteemed Journal of Neuroscience, researchers note the discovery of a new control mechanism that promotes the organization of neurons. The investigators say that the mechanism originates in the memory center of the newborn brain, where it controls and guides the maturation process of the cortex. This is very helpful for the amount of information processing that the brain will perform throughout its life span. The rhythmic interactions of neural networks are absolutely critical for a wide array of cognitive operations.
Some of these operations include, for example, attention, learning, memory, as well as certain phases of sleep. Discovering when the brain is sufficiently mature to allow for these operations to take place has been a long-standing goal for scientists. They were basically looking for the threshold that, once achieved, allowed for the functional characteristics and interconnections of the brain to operate in a complex, integrated manner. Key players in the maturation process are structures called interneurons, or relay neurons. They create connections between afferent (incoming) neurons and efferent (outgoing) neurons, in neural pathways.
One of the most important roles these interneurons play in the infant brain is promoting and favoring the creation of new nerve-cell contacts, by acting as controllers for the process. Also related to this, they prevent the newly formed neural pathways from firing their first electric impulses prematurely. This could have negative repercussions on the network's later development, researchers believe. This type of research, in addition to edifying scientists on some of the critical aspects of human brain development, could also favor research seeking to discover potential new cures for disorders such as epilepsy. The condition is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.