Synaptic wiring motifs in posterior parietal cortex support decision-making. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38383788/)

These scientists wanted to understand how our brain makes decisions by studying a specific part of the brain called the posterior parietal cortex. They used a combination of different tools and techniques to look at how the connections between different types of brain cells in this area affect decision-making.

They used virtual reality to study how the brain responds to different choices, and then looked at the activity of individual brain cells using a special imaging technique called two-photon calcium imaging. They also used high-throughput electron microscopy to get a very detailed look at the connections between these brain cells.

What they found was that certain types of brain cells, called excitatory pyramidal neurons, preferentially connect to other brain cells called inhibitory interneurons that have similar preferences. These inhibitory interneurons then connect back to the pyramidal neurons with opposite preferences, creating a pattern of "opponent inhibition."

This opponent inhibition helps the brain amplify important information related to decision-making, making it easier for the brain to choose between different options. The scientists also created computer models to show how these brain cell connections work together to help us make decisions.

By understanding how these brain connections work, the scientists were able to learn more about how our brain processes information and makes decisions in different situations.

Kuan AT., Bondanelli G., Driscoll LN., Han J., Kim M., Hildebrand DGC., Graham BJ., Wilson DE., Thomas LA., Panzeri S., Harvey CD., Lee WA. Synaptic wiring motifs in posterior parietal cortex support decision-making. Nature. 2024 Feb 21. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07088-7.