The mechanism of information filtering is revealed

Why do we see the world clearly instead of blurred and overloaded with details? The answer lies in a special mechanism called lateral inhibition. This is a process in which some neurons inhibit the activity of neighboring neurons, enhancing contrast and helping to focus on the main thing. Experts have discovered how this happens at the cellular level, which may change approaches to the treatment of neurological diseases and the creation of neural networks.

To visualize this mechanism in a simpler way, we can compare it to the work of an artist who darkens contours to clearly highlight the boundaries of objects. In the brain, something similar happens: some nerve cells muffle signals from neighboring cells, helping us to see the difference between objects and not be distracted by background details.

The brain’s ability to filter information is particularly important for concentration. Disruptions in this process are seen in conditions such as autism and attention deficit disorder (ADHD), making it difficult to process visual cues. A deeper understanding of the mechanism of neuronal inhibition may provide clues to the development of new methods for correcting these disorders.

Another important aspect of the research is related to artificial intelligence. Modern neural networks process information in the same way at all levels, while the brain uses different types of neurons to perform specific tasks. The discovery could help make AI more efficient by bringing it closer to natural principles of data processing.

The team of scientists studied two types of inhibitory neurons in the brain’s visual cortex – PV neurons and SST neurons. Using an optogenetics technique that allows the activity of cells to be controlled by light, they tracked how these cells affect visual perception in mice.

It turned out that PV-neurons work as a brightness regulator – their activation reduces the contrast of the image, as if reducing the brightness on the monitor screen. SST-neurons act differently: they more subtly adjust the perception of contrast, removing unnecessary signals and enhancing important details. Thus, the brain uses different mechanisms to process visual information, balancing between clarity and suppression of unnecessary information.

Lateral inhibition processes are involved not only in vision. Similar mechanisms operate in the auditory and tactile systems, helping us to distinguish sounds and sense textures. Understanding these principles could lead to new methods of improving sensory perception and even developing technologies to restore it.

The team is now confident that their findings will help not only in medicine, but also in the creation of new algorithms for artificial intelligence. Perhaps in the future, this will make it possible to develop more accurate and flexible information processing systems that can adapt in the same way as our brains.