Paper Boys

Episode 44

Is the Critical Brain Hypothesis Correct?

Cells in your brain may always be on the verge of an "avalanche"...

In the 1980s, neuroscientists put forth the Critical Brain Hypothesis, which suggests our brain operates on a teetering edge between different “phases” of operation. These phase changes characterize the way we think and the way our brain functions. However, our brains have to sit right near the critical point that lies between these phases - just like the thin line between water and ice, for example. Obviously, this hypothesis has been incredibly difficult to prove true - but a new experiment takes us the furthest we’ve ever been in understanding this dynamic. James dives into the paper to find out what your brain may have in common with avalanches.

Check out the paper from the Physical Review Letters, available here and the Quanta Magazine article here

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