A person running and suddenly noticing a tree branch on their path will quickly lower their head, narrowly avoid it, and then continue running. It is one of the examples of how the left and right hemispheres of the brain rapidly and precisely communicate with each other to avoid harm.
Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered a way to improve this fast brain rhythm that involves running and dreaming. They used recordings of rats and mice for their study titled "Running Speed and Rem Sleep Control Two Distinct Modes of Rapid Interhemispheric Communication," published in Cell Reports, to understand the mechanisms behind the communication between the two hemispheres of the brain.
Running, Dreaming Are Two Modes of Rapid Rhythmic Communication Between Left and Right Brain
What is Lateralization of Brain Function?
According to Simply Psychology, lateralization of brain function includes those functions that are specific to certain parts of the brain. For example, some parts are responsible for controlling language, formulating memories, and movements. Damage to these parts of the brain hinders their function.
On the other hand, the holistic theory of the brain explains that all parts are involved in processing thought and action. The brain is composed of the left and right hemispheres that are joined with the corpus callosum, a bundle of nerve fibers between the brain.
The brain comprises different cortices responsible for visual, motor, and somatosensory functions that each hemisphere controls.
The left hemisphere is linked to linguistic functions, like grammar and vocabulary, and contains different language centers, such as the Broca's and Wernicke's areas. Meanwhile, the right hemisphere is responsible for visuospatial functions, such as depth percep[tion, visualization, and spatial navigation.
Although they have different functions due to the lateralization in the brain, they rapidly send out signals to communicate and work with each other.
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Communication Between Left and Right Hemispheres of the Brain
The fast rhythm that links the brain's two hemispheres has a new name: splines. According to a news release from the University of Michigan, it got its name because they resemble mechanical splines.
Study lead author Omar Ahmed, an assistant professor of psychology, said that splines represent a pattern of rhythmic communication across the two hemispheres of the brain that is unique to other brain rhythms.
In the past, brain rhythms were likened to synchronized swimming as they tried to do the same thing at once. But splines are like the left and right playing ping pong game in a very fast and precise manner, which shows a different way of communicating.
Psychology doctoral student Megha Ghosh, the study's first author, said that splines have a significant function in allowing each hemisphere of the brain to coordinate information. The rhythmic patterns are all healthy and awake rhythms that are more precise when running faster.
They believe that when an animal is moving faster, it could help both the left and right hemispheres of the brain to compute more cohesively and rapidly as it requires them to make faster decisions.
Furthermore, they also see splines during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when most dreams happen. Ahmed said that there is a surprising back-and-forth communication stronger during the dreaming stage rather than when awake. That means splines play a critical role in coordinating information during sleep, perhaps to help the brain to store awake memories into long-term.
The team focused their study on the retrospinal cortex, the first region affected in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. It suggests that spline rhythms could be used as an early biomarker for Alzheimer's, although more research is needed to confirm this.
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