Neuroscientists have vastly underestimated brain cells’ computing power
A new study shows that each neuron can do multiple computations at once thanks to hundreds of sprawling branches
Neuroscientists have vastly underestimated the computing power of brain cells, according to a new study. Researchers have found direct evidence that each neuron can perform multiple computations simultaneously due to its extensive dendrites, which are branching structures that receive input from thousands of neighboring cells. Traditionally, neurons were thought to act as single processors in the brain.
However, the study, published in Science, reveals that the dendrites' sprawling architecture may actually expand the computational capacity of individual neurons and the brain as a whole. The findings suggest that dendrites could function as local "memory devices," preserving traces of past information or even predicting changes before the cell body can adjust. This discovery could fundamentally alter our understanding of brain function and computation.
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