Research Finds Some Neurons Can Multitask

Researchers from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered a type of neuron found in rat brains which cannot be classified with a specialized function, redefining current beliefs by proposing that neurons can serve multiple functions. The study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, details how researchers trained rats to respond to lights and sound, then analyzed cells in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), which is linked to decision-making and planning. Rather than easily classified neurons which responded to single stimuli, researchers found that these neurons were remarkably unique and each cell defied typical categorization as they responded to multiple stimuli. The authors of the study speculated that these neurons are able to multi-task as a group — a behavior which has never before been observed in nature. “This changes the way our team thinks about how neurons are used and work together. It is no longer single neurons making sense of a behavior, but the whole group, integrating multiple signals,” said the lead researcher. These findings advance current understanding of how the brain handles multiple stimuli, hopefully providing insight into disorders in which that process is disrupted. To learn more about this study, click here.