Advanced ’microchip’ in the brain
Latest findings by Szeged researchers: intelligence could be determined by human-specific brain characteristics and, in turn, as the Achilles heels of the brain these could also be responsible for the development of certain brain disorders.
The neocortex is dedicated to higher-order cognitive functions such as language use. This part of the brain has a very similar microstructure in humans and in species used for animal tests. However, the latest results of two research groups in Szeged University, headed by Gábor Tamás and Karri Lamsa respectively, suggest that the human neocortical network has unique properties.
Gábor Tamás’s research group together with Zoltán Nusser (Institute of Experimental Medicine of the MTA) has published an article in eLife on the unique properties of excitatory and inhibitory neurons of the human cerebral cortex. These interneuron connections are so effective that a single action potential of a single neuron may activate several other neurons. The authors suppose that this property specific to the human cerebral cortex might have evolved in order to foster more effective information processing. The publication of Gábor Tamás and his colleagues shows that several synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitters owing to neural activity in these very effective interneuron connections. The cerebral cortex of other species does not exhibit a similar phenomenon, which entails the possibility that this has evolved in humans only.
Viktor Szegedi and Karri Lamsa (Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged) published an article in Plos Biology, which is closely connected to the topic above. The article claims that these very effective connections are rather flexible and plastic, i.e. their effectiveness can be more readily changed than that of the interneuron connections of rats, which were examined as a baseline. These strong interneuron connections can be changed due to learning, and thus are able to activate another neuron system in the human cerebral cortex. These results are also important because the regulation of the neocortical neural network is indispensable during higher-order cognitive functions, such as learning.
mta.hu
SZTE Experience
Tamerlan Mendybayev – Faculty of Agriculture
My name is Tamerlan Mendybayev. I am from capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan. Currently I am first year student at the Faculty of Agriculture. I chose the University of Szeged as my study destination for several reasons: firstly, it is a well-known applied science institution in Europe and the best in Hungary. Secondly, the program is designed with a significant focus on the developing practical skills of the students and there is a University pilot farm where students keen their skills and implement their knowledge in practice. Undoubtedly, University of Szeged is a place where students become professionals in their academic field.
Ahmad Adha - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
I am Ahmad Adha from Indonesia and currently a 3rd year student in Theoretical Linguistics PhD program. I chose the University of Szeged (SZTE) as my study destination because it is located in the center of the town and it is also the highest ranked university in Hungary. The university staff and the professors were very accommodating and understanding when I decided to change the program that suits my research topic. I am so glad that I can be a part of my current department, and of course SZTE, since it is also the Center of Pragmatic Research which aims to promote advanced linguistic pragmatic research with international collaborations. After graduating, I wish to continue to work in my academic field as a professor and a researcher. My advice for prospective SZTE students is to choose a university with a good academic reputation that fits their passion.
