. Earth Science News .
ABOUT US
Does the human brain resemble the Universe
by Staff Writers
Bologna, Italy (SPX) Nov 17, 2020

stock image only

In their paper published in Frontiers of Physics, Franco Vazza (astrophysicist at the University of Bologna) and Alberto Feletti (neurosurgeon at the University of Verona) investigated the similarities between two of the most challenging and complex systems in nature: the cosmic network of galaxies and the network of neuronal cells in the human brain.

Despite the substantial difference in scale between the two networks (more than 27 orders of magnitude), their quantitative analysis, which sits at the crossroads of cosmology and neurosurgery, suggests that diverse physical processes can build structures characterized by similar levels of complexity and self-organization.

The human brain functions thanks to its wide neuronal network that is deemed to contain approximately 69 billion neurons. On the other hand, the observable universe can count upon a cosmic web of at least 100 billion galaxies. Within both systems, only 30% of their masses are composed of galaxies and neurons. Within both systems, galaxies and neurons arrange themselves in long filaments or nodes between the filaments. Finally, within both systems, 70% of the distribution of mass or energy is composed of components playing an apparently passive role: water in the brain and dark energy in the observable Universe.

Starting from the shared features of the two systems, researchers compared a simulation of the network of galaxies to sections of the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum. The goal was to observe how matter fluctuations scatter over such diverse scales.

"We calculated the spectral density of both systems. This is a technique often employed in cosmology for studying the spatial distribution of galaxies", explains Franco Vazza.

"Our analysis showed that the distribution of the fluctuation within the cerebellum neuronal network on a scale from 1 micrometer to 0.1 millimeters follows the same progression of the distribution of matter in the cosmic web but, of course, on a larger scale that goes from 5 million to 500 million light-years".

The two researchers also calculated some parameters characterizing both the neuronal network and the cosmic web: the average number of connections in each node and the tendency of clustering several connections in relevant central nodes within the network.

"Once again, structural parameters have identified unexpected agreement levels. Probably, the connectivity within the two networks evolves following similar physical principles, despite the striking and obvious difference between the physical powers regulating galaxies and neurons", adds Alberto Feletti.

"These two complex networks show more similarities than those shared between the cosmic web and a galaxy or a neuronal network and the inside of a neuronal body".

The encouraging results of this pilot study are prompting the researchers to think that new and effective analysis techniques in both fields, cosmology, and neurosurgery, will allow for a better understanding of the routed dynamics underlying the temporal evolution of these two systems.

Research Report: "The quantitative comparison between the neuronal network and the cosmic web"


Related Links
University of Bologna
All About Human Beings and How We Got To Be Here


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


ABOUT US
Newly discovered primate in Myanmar 'already facing extinction'
Paris (AFP) Nov 11, 2020
In a rare find, scientists have identified a new species of primate, a lithe tree-dweller living in the forests of central Myanmar with a mask-like face framed by a shock of unruly grey hair. The Popa langur - named for an extinct volcano home to its largest population, some 100 individuals - has been around for at least a million years, according to a study detailing the find, published Wednesday in Zoological Research. But with only 200 to 250 left in the wild today, experts will recommend t ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

ABOUT US
Lake ice destabilized by climate change linked to increase in youth drownings

Climate change bigger threat than Covid: Red Cross

NORAD to track Santa on Christmas with smaller crew due to COVID-19

Winter rains in Beirut finish off blast-ravaged homes

ABOUT US
Earth may have recaptured a 1960s-era rocket booster

Smaller than ever - exploring the unusual properties of quantum-sized materials

Smart concrete could pave the way for high-tech, cost-effective roads

New PlayStation hits market as console battle with Xbox begins

ABOUT US
Real estate data can help policy makers anticipate urban water needs

Recent climate extremes have driven unprecedented changes in the deep ocean

Turkey probes Istanbul mayor in fight over 'crazy' canal

Love waves from the ocean floor

ABOUT US
Holes in Greenland ice sheet are larger than previously thought, study finds

Greenland's largest glaciers likely to melt faster than feared: study

Russia to launch first satellite to monitor Arctic climate in February 2021

Possible 1,000-kilometer-long river running deep below Greenland's ice sheet

ABOUT US
US agricultural water use declining for most crops and livestock production

People in developing countries eat less bushmeat as they migrate from rural to urban areas

CAST releases paper on "Ground and Aerial Robots for Agricultural Production: Opportunities and Challenges"

'English nouveau': a young red to rival Beaujolais

ABOUT US
Storm Iota leaves over 30 dead in Central America

Piecing together the Alaska coastline's fractured volcanic activity

Iota, weakened but deadly, rips through Central America

Heavy rains kill five in Colombia, six missing

ABOUT US
Nigerian army bombs highway 'bandits' after kidnappings

African leaders mount effort to mediate Ethiopia conflict

China to curb emerging economy financing: Euler Hermes

Ethiopian warplanes bombard Tigray as Abiy denies 'chaos'

ABOUT US
Humans simultaneously evolved the ability to use tools, teach tool usage

Does the human brain resemble the Universe

Newly discovered fossil shows small-scale evolutionary changes in an extinct human species

Newly discovered primate in Myanmar 'already facing extinction'









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.