2021's Breakthroughs in Neuroscience and Other Biology
Quanta Magazine・2 minutes read
Neuroscientists have mapped out different areas of the brain responsible for various functions, challenging traditional views of brain mapping. Recent studies show that cognitive brain functions like memory overlap in activity across different brain regions, while researchers like Russell Poldrack are using computational approaches to understand the brain's organizational features.
Insights
- Traditional categories of cognitive brain functions like memory overlap in activity across different brain regions, challenging the simplistic mapping of brain functions, as highlighted by recent studies.
- Sleep research has evolved from a brain-centric perspective to exploring how sleep regulates metabolism and enhances repair, suggesting that sleep may have initially served non-brain-related functions before evolving to include brain-related functions.
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Recent questions
What are the different functions of brain areas?
Neuroscientists have identified specific areas of the brain responsible for rationality, movement coordination, perception, memory, language, emotion, and visual processing. Each area plays a crucial role in different cognitive functions, contributing to our overall brain activity and behavior.
How do traditional categories of cognitive brain functions overlap?
Recent studies have shown that traditional categories of cognitive brain functions, like memory, actually overlap in activity across different brain regions. This challenges the simplistic mapping of brain functions and suggests a more complex and interconnected network of brain activity related to various cognitive processes.
How is Russell Poldrack studying the brain's organizational features?
Russell Poldrack at Stanford University is using a computational approach to understand the brain's organizational features. By analyzing data from various psychological tasks, he aims to identify neural activity related to memory recall. This method allows for a more in-depth exploration of how the brain functions and processes information.
What challenges are faced in sequencing the genome of Rafflesia arnoldii?
Rafflesia arnoldii, also known as the "corpse flower," poses challenges in genome sequencing due to its genome featuring highly repetitive elements called transposons. These repetitive sequences make it difficult to accurately sequence and analyze the genome of this parasitic plant, adding complexity to genetic studies.
What did Liming Cai discover about the genome of Rafflesia?
Liming Cai successfully created a draft genome for Rafflesia, revealing that the plant has lost nearly half of conserved plant genes and consists of 90% repeating DNA. This discovery raises questions about parasite genomics and sheds light on the unique genetic makeup of Rafflesia, providing insights into its evolutionary history and biological characteristics.
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Summary
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Brain mapping challenges traditional cognitive categories.
- Neuroscientists have mapped out different areas of the brain responsible for various functions such as rationality, movement coordination, perception, memory, language, emotion, and visual processing.
- Recent studies show that traditional categories of cognitive brain functions like memory overlap in activity across different brain regions, challenging the simplistic mapping of brain functions.
- Russell Poldrack at Stanford University is using a computational approach to understand the brain's organizational features by analyzing data from various psychological tasks to identify neural activity related to memory recall.
- Rafflesia arnoldii, known as the "corpse flower," is a parasitic plant with a genome featuring highly repetitive elements called transposons, making genome sequencing challenging.
- Liming Cai successfully created a draft genome for Rafflesia, revealing that it has lost nearly half of conserved plant genes and consists of 90% repeating DNA, posing questions about parasite genomics.
- Sleep research has shifted from a brain-centric view to exploring how sleep evolved to regulate metabolism and enhance repair, with recent findings showing that sleep may have initially served non-brain-related functions before evolving to include brain-related functions.
