Researchers May Have Solved , a Piece of the Human Brain's , Energy Puzzle.<br />'PsyPost' reports that scientists have uncovered <br />how specific parts of the human brain require <br />different amounts of energy than other parts.<br />The work, which was published in 'Science Advances,' <br />highlights how evolution of human cognition is linked to <br />the development of energy-intensive brain networks.<br />The findings challenge the long-held belief that <br />cognitive abilities are due to the size of the brain.<br />Despite making up just 2% of an average human's <br />body weight, the human brain consumes 20% <br />of the total energy required by the body. .<br />Researchers uncovered a linear relationship <br />between the brain's glucose metabolism <br />and its functional connectivity.<br />The findings suggest that areas of the brain with more <br />connections require more energy, like the frontoparietal <br />network, which performs high-level cognitive tasks.<br />That brain network, which handles problem-solving and <br />decision-making, was found to use 67% more energy <br />than areas of the brain that handle more basic functions.<br />'Newsweek' reports that the variance in <br />energy distribution was observed in all <br />participants, regardless of gender or age.<br />The team's work highlights how areas of the brain <br />with more neuromodulators, like dopamine <br />and serotonin, require more energy. .<br />It seems that the benefits of increased <br />cortical energy metabolism, together <br />with an increased supply of energy <br />substrates, have outweighed its risks. <br />Yet, our knowledge of how the interaction <br />of slow-acting neuromodulators with <br />fast information processing contributes<br />to human cognition is still limited, Study authors, via 'PsyPost'
