Scientists discover ancient brain cells that help block distractions
News
Scientists have uncovered a hidden âfocus switchâ in an ancient part of the brain that may hold new clues to treating ADHD.
– Johns Hopkins University
– Scientists have discovered a tiny group of neurons in an ancient brain region that acts like a built-in focus filter, helping the brain ignore distractions and zero in on what matters most. When researchers temporarily switched off these neurons in mice, the animals became unusually distractibleâsimilar to what is seen in ADHDâbut regained normal focus as soon as the neurons were reactivated.
Details
Scientists have identified a group of neurons located in an ancient region of the brain that plays a key role in helping animals focus. These cells appear to improve attention by filtering out distractions and directing the brain toward the most important information.
The discovery, made in mice by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, points to a brain system that is shared by all vertebrates, including humans. The findings could eventually help researchers develop more precise treatments for attention-related disorders.
“A hallmark of ADHD is that even faint distractors draw attention away — and that’s exactly what we see here when these neurons are silenced,” said senior author Shreesh Mysore, a neuroscientist who studies neural circuits tied to behavior. “But the very next day, when the neurons are turned back on, the same animal can ignore distractors again, even very strong ones.”
Analysis
The federally funded study was recently published in Nature Communications and selected as an editorial highlight.
Ancient Brain Region Linked to Attention
Humans and other animals constantly sort through competing information, focusing on what matters most while ignoring less important signals. This ability, known as selective spatial attention, allows people to follow a conversation in a noisy room or spot a friend in a crowded space. Difficulties with this process are associated with conditions such as autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
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