What's Happening?
A study led by D. Mendoza-Halliday and colleagues has investigated the presence of a 'ubiquitous spectrolaminar motif' in the primate neocortex. This motif is characterized by specific power peaks in different cortical layers: 75-150 Hz in the supragranular
layers and 10-19 Hz in the infragranular layers. The crossing point of these power gradients identifies layer 4 (L4), which is crucial for understanding cortical functions. The study analyzed data from 14 cortical areas in macaques and compared it with data from marmosets, mice, and humans. The findings support the hypothesis that gamma activity originates in the supragranular layers, reflecting feedforward activity, while alpha-beta activity originates in the infragranular layers, reflecting feedback activity. This research aims to establish canonical principles of brain operation, which are of broad scientific interest.
Why It's Important?
Identifying canonical motifs in the brain is vital for advancing our understanding of neural processing and communication. The study's findings could have significant implications for neuroscience, particularly in developing models of brain function and dysfunction. Understanding these motifs can aid in the development of new diagnostic tools and treatments for neurological disorders. The research also highlights the importance of cross-species comparisons in identifying universal principles of brain operation, which can enhance the generalizability of findings and inform translational research.
