{"id":2000122341,"date":"2026-08-13T13:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T11:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000122341"},"modified":"2026-08-13T12:46:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T10:46:12","slug":"scientists-uncover-surprising-power-of-human-brain-cells","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/scientists-uncover-surprising-power-of-human-brain-cells\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists uncover surprising power of human brain cells"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A study led by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that neurons in the human cortex can process information in remarkably sophisticated ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The findings suggest that individual brain cells function more like tiny biological computers than simple on and off switches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For decades, scientists have focused largely on the number of neurons in the human brain and the vast networks connecting them when trying to understand human intelligence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new research suggests that the complexity of individual neurons may also play an important role in explaining abilities such as language, imagination, mathematics and invention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research was led by Professors Idan Segev and Mickey London, together with PhD students Ido Aizenbud and Daniela Yoeli at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also collaborated with Professor Chris de Kock of the Free University in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To measure the computing power of individual neurons, researchers developed a new approach combining computer modelling and artificial intelligence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They examined how difficult it would be for an artificial neural network to reproduce the relationship between information entering a biological neuron and the response it produces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers found that human cortical neurons have highly complex branching structures known as dendritic trees, along with distinctive electrical properties that allow them to perform sophisticated computations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These abilities enable individual neurons to process complex information, including visual signals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The findings challenge the traditional view of neurons as relatively simple components whose main role is to transmit signals through the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, the researchers suggest that a single human cortical neuron can operate as a powerful computing unit, with capabilities comparable to those of a deep neural network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Segev said the findings show that a single human neuron is an \u201cextraordinarily sophisticated computing device,\u201d highlighting how much processing power may exist within individual brain cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discovery could also influence the development of artificial intelligence. Modern AI systems generally rely on simplified artificial units inspired by neurons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers suggest that future brain-inspired AI could instead use artificial units designed to reproduce some of the deeper computational abilities found in biological neurons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides a new perspective on the biological foundations of human intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also gives scientists a framework for studying how the physical structure of individual brain cells is connected to their ability to process information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers believe this approach could contribute to a better understanding of how the human brain produces thought, learning and other complex cognitive abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Scientists have uncovered extraordinary computing power in individual human brain cells<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scientists have discovered that individual human brain cells may be capable of far more complex computations than previously understood, offering a new explanation for the extraordinary abilities of the human brain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":2000122342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"byline":[201],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000122341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","byline-rania-umutoni"],"bylines":[{"id":201,"name":"Rania Umutoni","slug":"rania-umutoni","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":139}],"contributors":[{"id":201,"name":"Rania Umutoni","slug":"rania-umutoni","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":139}],"featured_image":{"id":2000122342,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/neuron-brain-cell-spark.webp","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/webp","width":1920,"height":1080,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/neuron-brain-cell-spark.webp","width":1920,"height":1080},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/neuron-brain-cell-spark.webp","width":1920,"height":1080},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/neuron-brain-cell-spark.webp","width":1920,"height":1080},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/neuron-brain-cell-spark.webp","width":1920,"height":1080},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/neuron-brain-cell-spark.webp","width":1920,"height":1080}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000122341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/139"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000122341"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000122341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000122383,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000122341\/revisions\/2000122383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000122342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000122341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000122341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000122341"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000122341"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000122341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}