Metadata →
In a study published in Science Advances, researchers found that certain areas of the human brain, particularly those involved in complex cognitive functions, require more energy than others, challenging previous beliefs. The brain’s high energy demands, despite its small size relative to the body, have long puzzled scientists. By exploring the brain’s energy distribution and the role of neuromodulators, like dopamine and serotonin, researchers discovered a link between energy use, cognitive capabilities, and evolutionary growth. The study highlighted the importance of energy-intensive brain regions in facilitating higher cognitive abilities and emphasized the role of slow-acting neuromodulator circuits in human cognition. [!note]
Artículo resume investigación que muestra grandes diferencias en consumo energético entre distintas áreas del cerebro. Las con más consumo serían las frontoparietales: aquellas mas recientes evolutivamente, las más expuestas a neuromodulación y que están más involucradas en procesos cognitivos superiores.
Highlights
id680437867
One key discovery was a linear relationship between the brain’s glucose metabolism and its functional connectivity. This meant that areas of the brain with more connections or activity also used more energy. Significantly, the frontoparietal networks, which are pivotal in high-level cognitive tasks like problem-solving and decision-making, were found to use up to 67% more energy than areas involved in basic sensory or motor functions.
id680438646
It also highlighted that regions regulated more by neuromodulators, such as dopamine and serotonin, required more energy. This finding is crucial because it suggests that the human brain’s development, particularly its cognitive capabilities, may be as much about these energy-intensive regions as it is about overall size
id680438662
Furthermore, the study found a connection between the brain’s energy use and its evolutionary growth. Regions that have expanded the most in human evolution showed higher energy demands. On a microscale, areas with high energy costs also exhibited a higher density of cells in their lower layers
id680438752
the brain’s energy usage is intricately tied to our higher cognitive abilities.