The conventional understanding of brain function, which is heavily reliant on complex neural interactions, has been challenged by a recent discovery. Scientists have now uncovered that the brain’s form plays a crucial role in influencing thoughts, feelings, and actions. This research, using MRI scans and the concept of eigenmodes, revealed that the brain’s geometric properties significantly affect its function, similar to the way a musical instrument’s shape determines its sound. This breakthrough opens fresh pathways for understanding brain functions and diseases.
Our brain’s configuration, as opposed to the communication among different areas, critically steers our cognitive processes, emotional responses, and behaviors.
For over a century, the prevailing scientific belief has been that our cognitive and emotional experiences are dictated by the communication among various brain areas via a vast intercellular network consisting of trillions of connections.
However, the study, led by the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University, delved into over 10,000 unique human brain activity maps. It revealed that the overall shape of an individual’s brain substantially impacts their cognitive processes, emotions, and behavior, more than the complex neuronal interconnections.
This pioneering study, published in the esteemed journal Nature, amalgamates insights from physics, neuroscience, and psychology. It topples the hundred-year-old paradigm focusing on the importance of brain connectivity, unveiling a hitherto unrecognized link between brain shape and activity.
The lead author, Dr. James Pang, a Research Fellow at the Turner Institute and Monash University’s School of Psychological Sciences, emphasized that their findings simplify our understanding of how the brain functions, develops, and ages.
Dr. Pang and Alex Fornito examined over 10,000 MRIs to deduce the significance of brain shape. Image Credit: Monash University
He further added, “This research offers us the chance to comprehend the impact of diseases like dementia and stroke through models of brain shape, which are much simpler to manage compared to models illustrating the brain’s vast network of connections.”
The research team leveraged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate eigenmodes—natural vibration patterns within a system where all parts vibrate at the same frequency. Traditionally used in physics and engineering, this approach has only recently been employed to study the brain.
Co-lead author Dr. Kevin Aquino, affiliated with BrainKey and The University of Sydney, compared the resonant frequencies of a violin string determined by its length, density, and tension to the brain’s eigenmodes shaped by its structural, geometric, and anatomical properties.
Under the guidance of Professor Alex Fornito, the team examined how eigenmodes derived from brain shape models accounted for different activity patterns compared to those from models of brain connectivity.
Professor Fornito highlighted that the brain’s geometric aspects like contours and curvature have a potent influence on brain function. He said, “We used mathematical models to validate the theory that this tight link between geometry and function stems from wave-like activity propagating throughout the brain.”
He added that these findings could potentially enable predicting brain function directly from its shape, thereby facilitating exploration of individual behavioral differences and risks for neurological and psychiatric diseases.
The researchers found that across over 10,000 MRI activity maps, the activity was largely dominated by eigenmodes with spatial patterns of very long wavelengths, exceeding 40 mm. Dr. Pang noted that this conclusion contradicts the conventional belief, suggesting that traditional brain mapping approaches might only be scratching the surface of understanding how the brain truly works.
Reference: “Geometric constraints on human brain function” by James C. Pang, Kevin M. Aquino, Marianne Oldehinkel, Peter A. Robinson, Ben D. Fulcher, Michael Breakspear and Alex Fornito, 31 May 2023, Nature.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06098-1
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Brain Shape Impact
What does the new research from Monash University suggest about brain function?
The research suggests that the shape of a person’s brain plays a more significant role in influencing thoughts, feelings, and behavior than complex neural connectivity, which has been the traditional emphasis.
What approach did the researchers use to make this discovery?
The researchers used MRI scans and the concept of eigenmodes, traditionally used in physics and engineering, to study the natural patterns of vibration or excitation in the brain.
How might this research impact the study of brain diseases?
This research might simplify the way we study diseases like dementia and stroke. By considering models of brain shape, which are easier to manage than models of the brain’s full array of connections, researchers can better understand the effects of these diseases.
What is the significance of eigenmodes in this study?
Eigenmodes are the natural patterns of vibration or excitation in a system where all parts are excited at the same frequency. In the context of this study, the researchers found that the eigenmodes of the brain, which are determined by its geometric properties, significantly impact brain function.
How does this study challenge conventional wisdom about brain function?
Traditionally, brain function has been thought to be determined by the interactions between various brain regions via a vast network of cellular connections. However, this study suggests that the overall shape of the brain has a more substantial impact on cognitive processes, emotions, and behavior.
More about Brain Shape Impact
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health
- Monash University’s School of Psychological Sciences
- The Original Study in Nature
- Information on Eigenmodes
