Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University (USA) have found within the neocortex of the brain a subnetwork of highly active neurons that behave similarly to members of a social network.
According to the scientists, as happens in Facebook, these neural networks have a small population of very active, more connected members , who give and receive more information than the rest of the neurons in their network, according to Alison Barth, co-author of the study that publishes the magazine Neuron today. "It's like Facebook, where a lot of your friends don't post much, but a small percentage update their status frequently," explains Barth. "These people are usually connected to more people, so that while they share more information they also receive more information," he adds.
By identifying these "overactive" neurons, scientists hope to determine why they are more active, which could increase their understanding of the neocortex , which is believed to be the brain's main learning center .
