Researchers from Columba University believe they may have found a way of fooling the mind ’s eye into seeing matter that are n’t material , after manipulate the wiring of a mouse ’s mental capacity . By reconfiguring the neuronic connections in thevisual pallium , the team not only achieved the remarkable feat of implanting a non - real image into the animal ’s cognizance , but also highlighted the extent of the brain ’s plasticity .
spell in the journalScience , the study authors explain how they set out to examine howneuronal ensemblesform . These are “ coactive groups of neurons ” that fire in unison with one another , and are thought to represent the “ construction block of cortical circle . ” It has antecedently been suggested that they arise due toHebbian plasticity , whereby the connexion between these neurons – experience assynapses – become strengthened .
In an attempt to highjack this appendage , the researchers interpose the computer mouse with a virus contain light - tender protein that target certain neurons . This enabled them to then control the activity of these neurons using light – a technique known as optogenetics .
When optogenetically activating a compendium of neuron , the researchers discovered that these brain cells formed neuronal ensemble , and start to sack as a group whenever one of them became excite .
Video testify neurons being trained to exercise together as a result of repeatedly stimulation using light
To investigate the robustness of these ensembles , the researchers waited until the follow day and then once again energise a single nerve cell in the mouse ’s ocular cortex . Once more , this caused all the neurons in the ensemble to become active , suggesting that the new connection had become hardwired into the rodent ’s brain .
Because the neurons targeted were all locate in the part of the encephalon that processes vision , it ’s probable that optogenetic foreplay of these cells get the computer mouse to see an image of some sort , and that the same visual sense would have appeared on all subsequent occasions that the same neuronal ensemble was activated . However , the study writer presently have no way of knowing what that image might have looked like , and are in the process of developing a behavioural mental test to try and learn more about what the computer mouse “ go out ” when these neurons fire .
Perhaps more significantly , however , this research unveil just how tractile the learning ability is , and how pronto neuron form raw connections and circuits . “ I always thought the brain was mostly intemperately - wired , ” said study co - author Rafael Yuste in astatement . “ But then I saw the results and said ‘ Holy moly , this whole thing is plastic . ’ We ’re deal with a plastic computer that ’s perpetually find out and changing . ”
