This post is also available in Dutch.
Dear reader, this blog is written in the style of Shakespeare, not just to explain science but to immerse you in a tale where science truly comes to life. So, let yourself be carried away!
Once upon a thought, within the bustling chambers of the human brain, a question arose among the scholars: Could the brain, in its complexity, be poised at a magical edge—a fine line between chaos and order? This state, they named “criticality”. Like a tightrope walker balancing between stillness and frenzy, the brain, they say, might teeter at this threshold, unlocking its secrets.
Picture, if you will, a fiery hearth, where embers dance to the tune of the wind. Too much wind, and the embers scatter into disarray; too little, and they dwindle into slumber. Yet, at just the right whisper of air, the fire bursts forth with life, flickering and glowing—a perfect harmony. In this manner, they say, the brain’s network of neurons may find its spark, neither drowned in silence nor ablaze with unchecked chaos.
Our tale unfolds with a curious phenomenon: neural avalanches, miniature cascades of electrical activity that echo through the mind’s labyrinth. When these avalanches were observed, their patterns whispered of a peculiar truth—a power law, they called it—a signature seen only in systems on the brink of criticality. From the tiniest ripple to the mightiest wave, all sizes played their part in this grand symphony.
But lo! Not all were convinced of this brain’s critical dance. Some wise men argued that these patterns were but illusions, mere shadows cast by other forces. “Prove to us,” they cried, “that the brain indeed walks this narrow path! Else, we shall not be swayed by your enchantments.”
To answer this challenge, the scholars turned to a tale of magnets and their curious behaviour. Imagine a sheet of iron, where tiny magnets within may point north or south. At icy cold, all magnets align, marching in unison; at sweltering heat, they twist and turn in wild abandon. Yet, at just the right warmth, a magical balance is struck—a state neither frozen nor frenzied, but alive with dynamic harmony. And so, the scholars asked: Could our brains, too, sojourn in such a state?
Through experiments, they sought the truth, tuning the brain’s excitations like a harpist plucking strings. They found that at this critical edge, the brain’s power to process and store information reached its peak. Communication between distant corners of the brain was at its finest, like whispers travelling effortlessly through the still night air.
Though the sceptics’ voices still linger, the story of criticality in the brain continues to unfold—a tale as mysterious as the brain itself. Whether this dance upon the edge holds the secret to our thoughts and dreams remains a question for ages. Yet, in seeking the answer, we coup d’œil the sheer poetry of the cosmos within us.
Author : Vivek
Buddy : Amir
Editing : Helena
Translation : Hilde
Editing Translation: Dirk-Jan
