‘Hidden structures’ within the brain discovered by maths technique

Neuroscientists have discovered previously unknown geometric structures within the brain which could explain how we remember things and perform intricate tasks.

Researchers, including Professor Ran Levi from the institute of mathematics at Aberdeen University, uncovered a “universe” of multi-dimensional geometric structures within brain networks by using algebraic topology – a branch of mathematics using tools from abstract algebra to study geometric objects.

The results, obtained by 0 Ran Levi: ‘Brain structures may have 11 dimensions’ using this sophisticated technique in a way never before used in neuroscience, also suggest the brain constantly rewires during activity to build a network with as many high-dimensional structures as possible, which the team describe as akin to the brain continually creating and then disintegrating “sandcastles”.

The research was conducted by the Blue Brain Project, a research institute based at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland which aims to build detailed digital reconstructions and simulations of the brain.

Professor Levi said: “To a topologist the brain is like a gigantic network with dots (neurons) and pathways (connections among them).

“Our research suggests there may be some structures that could have anything up to 11 dimensions or more.”