Scientists discovered how our brain learns from our mistakes 15:03

Hungarian scientists from the HUN-REN Institute of Experimental Medicine in Budapest have discovered a neural mechanism that allows a person to remember negative experiences and avoid them in the future. The research was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature Communications (NatComms).

The team discovered specific inhibitory neurons in HBD that secrete the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV). These structures are located in a deep region of the brain called the horizontal nucleus.

HBD-PV neurons transmit excitatory effects to the neocortex, which is responsible for higher brain functions such as thinking, language, intelligence, and sensory perception. They also control fast cortical brain waves that are important for cognitive processes.

Experiments on mice showed that these neurons are activated as a result of events unpleasant for rodents (unexpected air currents that animals try to avoid or the appearance of a predator’s scent).

Researchers have found that the HBD-PV structure stimulates the relevant parts of the neocortex, increasing arousal and sharpening attention, forcing the brain to look for a way out of a negative situation.

Another effect found was that learning circuits were activated when unpleasant experiences were encountered. They influence the hypothalamus and raphe nuclei of the brain and then transmit information to the limbic system, which is responsible for behavioral and emotional reactions.

Moreover, HDB-PV inhibitory cells primarily target other inhibitory neurons in these areas, thus relieving the inhibition of excitatory cells, allowing them to become more active.

According to the scientists, their discovery made it possible to understand how negative events are encoded in the brain and used for learning.

Previous researchers clarified Panic attack mechanism.