Research has shown that the shape of the brain’s folds has a major impact on the ‘performance’ of the brain. Just as the shape of a bell determines the sound of a bell, the shape of the brain’s folds can affect the flow of brain waves generated by nerve cells in the brain. This is the first study to show that brain wrinkles are associated with better brain function.
A research team led by Professor James Peng from Monash University in Australia published the results of a study containing these findings in the international journal Nature on the 31st (local time).
There are two main physical structures that can affect brain function. The structure of the brain folds and nerve cells in the brain. Previously, academics speculated that the ‘connectome’, a connected form of nerve cells in the brain, would have a greater influence on brain function than the shape of the brain’s surface.
The research team hypothesized that wrinkles on the surface of the brain could affect brain function as much as the composition of neurons in the brain. To test the hypothesis, a comparative analysis was carried out to determine which of the outer cortical folds and connectivity had a greater influence on brain function.
In the experiment, it was confirmed how each connectome and cortical folds affect the movement of brain waves that influence brain function. After collecting more than 10,000 images of brain activity using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, they analyzed how the brain’s folds and the shape of the connective tissue function in transmitting brain waves.
As a result of the analysis, it was found that the shape of the brain’s folds affects the movement of the EEG more. Nerve cells that produce brain waves generate current to transmit signals to other nerve cells, and the flow of this current varies greatly depending on the shape of the folds of the brain. The research team compared this principle to the change in sound waves depending on the shape of a bell.
Some researchers were skeptical about the results of this study. David Van Essen, a professor at the University of Washington in the United States, pointed out the limitations, saying, “In this study, only a very limited part of the cerebral cortex was observed and changes in brain function were observed.”
To support the results of this study, the research team tried, but failed, to model idealized brain wrinkles related to the smooth movement of brain waves. The research team explained, “The shape of each person’s cerebral cortex is so different that it is difficult to compare and analyze.”
