Spontaneous Neural Activity: A Comprehensive Review
In the last decade, the field of neuroscience has seen an unprecedented growth in the understanding of the brain’s inner workings. Among the most intriguing concepts to emerge from this research is the idea of spontaneous neural activity. This phenomenon, also known as “neuronal avalanches”, has been found to be an essential component of normal brain functioning. In this review, we will discuss the current state of knowledge about spontaneous neural activity, its role in the brain, and its implications for brain health and disease.
Spontaneous neural activity was first discovered in the late 1980s, when researchers noticed that neurons in the brain seemed to be firing in a highly synchronized manner (Beggs & Plenz, 2003). This was unexpected, as neurons do not usually fire without an external stimulus. Since then, research has shown that spontaneous neural activity can occur in many different types of brain tissue and is an important part of normal brain functioning (Shew et al., 2009).
Spontaneous neural activity has been found to be an important mechanism for communication within the brain (Beggs & Plenz, 2003). Neurons that are spontaneously active are more likely to be connected to other neurons and participate in the transmission of information. This can help to ensure that the brain is able to react quickly and efficiently to external stimuli. Additionally, spontaneous neural activity has been found to be important for generating and maintaining complex patterns of activity in the brain, such as those involved in learning and memory (Shew et al., 2009).
The implications of spontaneous neural activity for brain health and disease are still being explored. Research has suggested that a disruption of spontaneous neural activity may be involved in some neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism (Shew et al., 2009). Additionally, research has shown that drugs such as alcohol and nicotine can disrupt spontaneous neural activity, leading to impaired cognition and behavior (Beggs & Plenz, 2003).
In conclusion, spontaneous neural activity is an important part of normal brain functioning. It plays a role in communication within the brain and is involved in the generation and maintenance of complex patterns of activity. Additionally, a disruption of spontaneous neural activity may be involved in some neurological and psychiatric disorders. Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of spontaneous neural activity for brain health and disease.
References
Beggs, J. M., & Plenz, D. (2003). Neuronal avalanches in neocortical circuits. The Journal of Neuroscience, 23(27), 11167-11177.
Shew, W. L., Yang, H., Yu, S., Roy, R., & Plenz, D. (2009). Neuronal avalanches imply maximum dynamic range in cortical networks at criticality. The Journal of Neuroscience, 29(49), 15595-15600.