Inside the Learning Brain: How Synapses Shape What We Know

[{"selector":"#anim-0b0ace61-3703-4df5-9eca-502b6c66c68f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e26c3ea-8b31-45ac-9a56-0817b458a678","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 407.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 20 May, 2025 Credit: Pexels

A New Look Inside the Brain

[{"selector":"#anim-181df0dd-d8ac-4dc9-bd5c-3ee75b459f9b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd33f3e3-5f96-4cec-b3ea-9eaac8904f7f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c438c17c-238f-45e5-a456-52939276708d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -767.4276%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5f72cdb-9aa0-4987-889c-29a600f69307","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91240c3d-ccaf-4550-b6b0-bbb8e583616c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.24421%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3726d53-b3ab-49af-91bc-fa6a7594bb71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dbc634e8-0288-4211-b3e1-6d1b3ec20b88","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.29404%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55fe4667-93b0-4c8e-a435-27a4d426aadc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9495c213-e88d-4ef0-bce9-66ac7f6cbac6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Using two-photon imaging, scientists zoomed into mouse brains to observe synapses and neurons during real-time learning. Credit: Pexels

Not One Rule, But Many

[{"selector":"#anim-02aaf360-c707-4b77-bc72-ac7b531053c8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85205b37-73e2-4b6c-b29d-5dcfd674ac72","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6bf3f324-1da3-4fe4-b82a-58ea4e9a80b8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -767.4276%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b565075-2547-4c7c-96c4-0206efa119f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc114d42-2ccf-4a38-b3c7-b490a63bd50f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 238.70575%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b48e768-f73c-413d-ac69-631ba8d916d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-531b0af1-73f7-4351-bde5-4870b5e4e389","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 836.20085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34470c71-a9b2-4dd0-8a36-e49d85b0fc64","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b36ce0ff-ddb1-4c4b-ae3a-bf755ff71d51","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Neurons don’t follow a single learning formula—different synapses in different brain areas adapt uniquely to new information. Credit: Pexels

Learning = Rewiring

[{"selector":"#anim-1b20ddba-e154-4373-957b-efa5e9af4df0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c16832f2-759e-4275-92a0-742e28d4f9a2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c1d22ae-a2b1-4e98-89f8-451d1c81725d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -767.4276%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bee8abe1-200e-4955-844f-e87f4875b84c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b03c749-d991-4f31-9b75-02ed0e92c2ee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 229.91453%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e3e1002-1296-4fea-bb17-1aca4333b78b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73bc55a0-aa71-42e4-ad4c-2a724d6f1e66","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 791.03960%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aac376f8-48b2-485f-829c-47bc5ae7fa83","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41371fbf-18c2-456c-9de8-de876d33cdd3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] When we learn something new, certain synapses grow stronger while others weaken, reshaping our brain's communication network. Credit: Pexels

Solving the “Credit Assignment Problem”

[{"selector":"#anim-69124fe4-6d73-41fc-b762-ac4e2c166b23 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d4b42f3-8313-4923-a95a-413bcedb78d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f22b4cc4-af6d-4222-8070-fc85507a2e84","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -767.4276%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf01c212-0c9a-4fcd-9b48-c6efd9654581","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f871c73b-1f7c-43d8-8e07-081a71aaf3ff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 189.25515%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcc8102c-3dde-48c2-b4c8-a76cc0b81855","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8095571-9cde-404e-a877-ec0972262824","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.29404%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddd0742c-4268-446b-a7bd-8047010da788","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8f61895-4e0b-454c-927a-161b7cc3147a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Like ants in a colony, synapses use only local info—but somehow work together to support whole-brain learning. The mystery is unraveling. Credit: Pexels

Beyond Brains: AI Inspiration

[{"selector":"#anim-914ddf22-3eb9-40da-8f36-a1ea226159cb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05423f4e-57da-407d-a02b-5f0e4a1dc13a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3bec2127-584c-4244-b4a5-fdbb71ad4ccf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -767.4276%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d02bc18-26f0-4687-a276-685cd67813a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-373f40f3-4ba4-42b6-b4b0-d4cce476911e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 189.25515%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fea4b988-9fd7-4e03-9ef7-2c9a89b3330d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d4ff566-3a18-41c4-9110-6df86fc24fd4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 392.29404%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1739d672-90cb-47ef-81f9-1316d402cdd3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92d5c95a-8cab-49ad-ab35-408c27247f98","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] These findings could lead to smarter, brain-like AI—where individual nodes follow unique learning rules, not just a universal code. Credit: Pexels

Hope for Brain Disorders

[{"selector":"#anim-d062fa77-da24-4206-903d-942441ca3621 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5fa19757-6ba5-40c7-b705-62c459e8db79","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5b976bd-9c74-4666-8eee-be9207d4dcea","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -767.4276%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68d8473a-ff53-46b2-aa3a-0c9fef174947","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93fac901-44fa-4dc0-a1ee-455af26ba109","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 218.92554%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3053731-1cd6-471f-b59a-258164469500","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d02c2b6-710c-467f-a543-1c832aad6518","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 774.91059%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fe1b5f1-40a4-4eb4-9b38-6eabdf37afd9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac198973-42e2-4bc4-ae83-ecba9d84f96d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Understanding how synapses change may lead to better treatments for PTSD, Alzheimer’s, addiction, autism, and more. Credit: Pexels

A Milestone in Neuroscience

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