Recent research from Rutgers University has unveiled significant insights into how the brain’s internal timing system influences cognitive abilities. The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals that various brain regions operate on different internal clocks, which impacts how efficiently the brain processes information and switches between activities.
The human brain continuously integrates rapid reactions with slower, more deliberate thought processes. This new study outlines how the brain achieves this integration by using white matter connections to communicate across regions, allowing for effective thinking, decision-making, and behavior.
Understanding Intrinsic Neural Timescales
Each area of the brain processes information at its own pace, characterized by what researchers call intrinsic neural timescales, or INTs. These timescales dictate how long a brain region retains information before transitioning to the next signal. According to Linden Parkes, assistant professor of psychiatry at Rutgers Health and senior author of the study, “To affect our environment through action, our brains must combine information processed over different timescales.” This integration is crucial for effective human behavior and cognitive function.
To investigate this phenomenon, Parkes and his team analyzed brain imaging data from 960 individuals. They constructed detailed maps of each participant’s brain connections, known as connectomes. By employing mathematical models to track how information flows through these networks, the researchers established a clear link between local processing and broader behavioral outcomes.
The Impact of Timing on Cognitive Variability
The study found that the arrangement of neural timescales across the cerebral cortex significantly influences how the brain transitions between different patterns of activity related to behavior. Notably, the organization of these timescales varies among individuals. Parkes noted, “We found that differences in how the brain processes information at different speeds help explain why people vary in their cognitive abilities.”
Moreover, the research established connections between these timing patterns and genetic, molecular, and cellular characteristics of brain tissue, suggesting that these mechanisms are fundamental biological processes. Similar patterns were observed in the brains of mice, indicating that these timing mechanisms may be conserved across species.
The findings highlight an important relationship between white matter connectivity and local computational properties of the brain. Individuals whose brain wiring more effectively aligns with the processing of fast and slow information tend to demonstrate higher cognitive capacity.
As a next step, the research team plans to apply these methods to explore neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Understanding how alterations in brain connectivity may disrupt information processing over time could provide valuable insights into these complex disorders.
The study was conducted in collaboration with Avram Holmes, associate professor of psychiatry at Rutgers Brain Health Institute, along with postdoctoral researchers Ahmad Beyh and Amber Howell, as well as Jason Z. Kim from Cornell University.
This research not only deepens our understanding of cognitive function but also paves the way for future studies that could significantly impact mental health treatment and interventions.
