How does the brain adapt to changes? 🔄

Researchers have identified a key neural circuit that allows animals to quickly adjust their behavior in response to unexpected changes in their environment. This discovery could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches for disorders affecting cognitive flexibility.

A key circuit for rapid adaptation

A team from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and the Transylvanian Institute of Neuroscience (TINS) conducted a study on mice to understand how the brain adjusts its behavior when rules change abruptly. This mechanism relies on rapid communication between two key regions: the piriform cortex, initially known for its role in processing smells, and the olfactory bulb, which receives initial sensory information.

The mice were trained to associate sensory stimuli (odors or sounds) with a reward. Periodically, these associations were reversed without warning. The researchers observed that the more experienced mice could adjust their behavior in just a few trials.

An unexpected multisensory interaction

Using specialized microscopes, the scientists were able to track in real time the activation of the neural circuits involved. They found that, contrary to the idea that each sense is processed in isolation, the piriform cortex also handles sound and reward information. This process relies on descending signals sent to the olfactory bulb, allowing it to integrate different types of information for effective adaptation.

To test the importance of this circuit, the researchers temporarily inhibited this connection using light-sensitive proteins. The treated mice experienced increased difficulty adapting to new rules, confirming the central role of this neural circuit in rapid learning.

Towards new therapeutic perspectives

This discovery challenges the traditional view of sensory processing in the brain and suggests that olfactory regions could play a broader role in cognitive flexibility. The researchers are now working to identify whether similar circuits exist for vision and touch.

If these mechanisms prove to be generalizable, they could inspire new strategies for treating disorders affecting behavioral flexibility, such as autism or certain neurodegenerative diseases. This study thus opens new perspectives on how our brain integrates and adapts sensory information according to context and needs.