Scientists Find Similarities Between the Universe and the Human Brain

A new study recently examined the differences and similarities between two of the most multifaceted systems in existence. Although at a totally different scale -- the cosmos and its galaxies versus the human brain and its neuron cells.

Specifically, the study authors found that while the gauge is evidently different, the structure is unusually similar.

In certain circumstances, the two systems appeared more similar to each other than they did to the parts they are composed of.

Furthermore, the study proposed that hugely different physical processes can result in very similar complex and systematized structures.

Comparison Between Networks

As described in the study, for instance, the human brains function due to their network of almost "70 million neurons that together make it up." The universe, on the other hand, is believed to have at least 100 billion galaxies.

In each of the systems, these are formed together in a complex network or web, spread out in filaments and nodes, connecting them up.

The said spreading nodes are common to images of both the universe and the human brain and account for some of the superficial resemblances in images.

Nevertheless, in every system, those threads are composed of just 30 percent of the mass. More so, in each, some 70 percent of the mass is indeed made up of parts that seem to be inactive. Such parts include the brain's water and the dark energy of the universe.

'Spectral Density'

To dig deeper into the said similarities, scientists compared the manner the galactic works form within the brain's sections. They sought to understand further how the matter was spread across the two extremely different networks.

According to University of Bologna astrophysicist Franco Vazza, they computed both systems' spectral density, a technique frequently used in cosmology for examining the galaxies' spatial distribution. Vazza also worked on this project with Alberto Feletti, a neurosurgeon at the University of Verona.

Vazza also said their evaluation exhibited that "the distribution of the fluctuation within the cerebellum neuronal network on a scale from one micrometer to 0.1 millimeter" is following a similar development of the matter's distribution in the cosmic web although, of course, on a larger gauge going between five million and 500 million light-years.

The study investigators also examined ways the webs of galaxies and neutrons link up, again, discovering similarities with the systems appearing to be more similar to each other compared to their component parts. To come up with a result, the researchers compared the average number of links between each of the nodes, as well as their manner of clustering.

Unexpected Agreement Levels Identified

Feletti explained, "Once again, structural parameters" have detected unexpected agreement levels. Probably, he continued, link within the two networks develops following the same physical principles, in spite of the striking and evident difference between the physical powers controlling galaxies and neurons.

The said two complex networks, said Feletti, exhibit more similarities compared to those share between a galaxy and the cosmic web, or a neuronal network, as well as the neuronal body's internal part.

A paper that described the findings, titled, "The quantitative comparison between the neuronal network and the cosmic web," was presented in the Frontiers of Physics journal.

Check out more news and information on Galaxies on Science Times.