The brain, tireless ally, is never idle
19.03.2025
Even during moments of apparent inactivity, the brain works intensely, functioning as a tireless archivist and an indefatigable trainer.
The human brain, even when it seems to be doing nothing, remains active, recalling past patterns and preparing for the future. This is evidenced by research analyses conducted by an international team led by Maurizio Corbetta, a professor at the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Padua and Principal Investigator at the Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine. Two studies have been published demonstrating how the brain, even at rest, aims to consolidate experiences and memories.
Researchers have discovered that during moments of apparent inactivity, the brain recalls neural activity patterns similar to those activated during real activities and prepares for future stimuli. Studies published in "Neuron" and "PNAS" reveal that this spontaneous activity occurs in various species, from humans to worms.
For example, the visual areas specialised in recognising faces show activity similar to when we observe a real face, while the motor system replicates movement patterns even when we are at rest. This suggests that the brain uses periods of rest to consolidate the memory of past actions, preparing itself to face future stimulations.
Understanding these mechanisms could be crucial in neurological disease research, such as treating stroke-related deficits. Therefore, the brain is a tireless archivist and an ever-active trainer, always at work even when we believe we are doing nothing.
