Derek Evan NeeJun 1, 2023
Earl K. Miller

Wave dynamics provide a better explanation of brain function. Moving away from brain theories based on functionally specialized cell populations connected by a complex array of axons.

Geometric constraints on human brain function
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06098-1

Geometric constraints on human brain function - Nature

Cortical and subcortical activity can be parsimoniously understood as resulting from excitations of fundamental, resonant modes of the brain’s geometry rather than from modes of complex interregional connectivity.

Nature
Jun 1, 2023 at 6:06pmWeb
Show threadTim HansonJun 1, 2023
@ekmiller Disagree ... it's almost certainly both.
1 - This sort of analysis is strongly biased by looking at only fMRI data. Likely cell-type specific effects dominate at dimensions smaller than a voxel.
2 - Compare Fig 2c and Fig 1d : not that convincing!
3 - Likely all power-law spatially-distributed networks have activity that is well approximated by geometric eigenmodes .. (i haven't read the supplement, might be a control)
Show threadEarl K. MillerJun 1, 2023

@m8ta There is a lot more work on this topic than one FMRI study. There have been studies of LFPs and electric fields as well.

Plus, no one is saying it's only one vs the other. Spiking and axons are important. Nothing happens without them. However, there is a lot going on at the emergent level. That has not been given enough attention.

There is a lot more going on in the brain than spiking and synaptic transmission.

Show threadRoberto D Pascual-MarquiJun 5, 2023
@ekmiller Could it be that the apparent simplicity of brain function determined by its shape is partly due to electric field influencing function? Electric field has speed of light influence, and decreases in strength with distance. Just wondering...