The neural networks of animal brains are partly mirror symmetric, with asymmetries regarded as extra frequent in additional cognitively superior species. This assumption stems from a long-standing concept that elevated complexity of neural duties can flip mirror-symmetric neural circuits into circuits present in just one facet of the mind. This speculation has now acquired assist from a mathematical mannequin developed by Luís Seoane on the Nationwide Heart for Biotechnology in Spain [1]. The researcher’s findings might assist clarify how the mind’s structure is formed not solely by cognitively demanding duties but additionally by injury or getting old.

A mirror-symmetric neural community is helpful when controlling physique elements which are themselves mirror symmetric, corresponding to legs and arms. Furthermore, the presence of duplicate circuits on both sides of the mind can assist improve computing accuracy and supply a substitute circuit if one turns into defective. Nonetheless, the redundancy created by such duplication can result in elevated vitality consumption. This trade-off raises an essential query: Does the optimum diploma of mirror symmetry depend upon the complexity of the cognitive duties carried out by the neural community?

Seoane’s mannequin demonstrates that the perfect configuration of a neural circuit is all the time both totally mirror symmetric or totally localized to at least one facet of the mind. Crucially, it additionally exhibits that elevated job complexity can induce a transition between these two configurations. This shift can happen both because the mind develops and ages or as organic evolution proceeds. Seoane says that, though this work targeted on mirror symmetry within the mind, the outcomes are normal to any set of duplicated neural circuits—corresponding to these current in the identical facet of the mind.

–Ryan Wilkinson

Ryan Wilkinson is a Corresponding Editor for Physics Journal based mostly in Durham, UK.

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