Scientists have discovered a unique form of cell communication in the human brain, suggesting our brains might be more powerful than previously thought.
In 2020, researchers from Germany and Greece found that brain cells in the cortex use calcium, in addition to sodium, to generate a new type of electrical signal called calcium-mediated dendritic action potentials (dCaAPs). This discovery, made by studying tissue from epilepsy surgeries, reveals that neurons can perform complex computations independently. This mechanism allows for XOR logical functions, previously thought to require a network of neurons.
Further research is needed to understand how these findings translate to brain function and whether similar mechanisms exist in other animals.