For over a century, scientists have believed that the intricate neuronal connections in the brain shape our thoughts, feelings, and dreams. However, a groundbreaking study led by the team at Monash University’s Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health challenges this long-held paradigm. The study, recently published in the prestigious journal Nature, reveals that the overall shape of an individual’s brain has a profound impact on cognitive processes, emotions, and behavior.

Simplifying Brain Function Studies

Lead author and Research Fellow Dr. James Pang explains that these findings have significant implications for studying how the brain functions, develops, and ages. By focusing on brain shape rather than complex connectivity, researchers can simplify their approach and gain a deeper understanding of the effects of diseases like dementia and stroke.

The Relationship Between Brain Shape and Activity

The research team used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study eigenmodes, which are the natural patterns of vibration or excitation in a system. In this case, the system is the brain. By analyzing more than 10,000 distinct maps of human brain activity, the team discovered that brain geometry, including contours and curvature, plays a crucial role in brain function.

Wave-Like Activity and Brain Function

The study reveals that structured patterns of activity are excited across nearly the entire brain, similar to how a musical note arises from vibrations occurring along the entire length of a violin string. This challenges the notion that specific thoughts or sensations elicit activity in isolated areas of the brain. Instead, wave-like activity propagates throughout the brain, influenced by its shape, much like the ripples formed by a falling pebble in a pond.

Implications for Understanding Individual Differences and Diseases

The close link between brain geometry and function opens up new avenues for exploring how the brain contributes to individual differences in behavior and the risk for psychiatric and neurological diseases. By predicting brain function directly from its shape, researchers can gain insights into the underlying mechanisms of these conditions.

Conclusion

The study conducted by the team at Monash University’s Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health challenges the traditional view that complex neuronal connectivity is the primary driver of brain function. Instead, it highlights the significant impact of brain shape on cognitive processes, emotions, and behavior. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the brain and pave the way for new approaches to studying and treating neurological and psychiatric disorders.