Tiny Mice Reveal How We Master Time’s Tempo
Breakthrough research from Cold Spring Harbor Lab reveals how Alston’s singing mice provide insights into the brain’s time processing. Neurons in the orofacial motor cortex exhibit temporal scaling, offering clues to adaptive behavior.
By Richard Cole · January 31, 2024
Life’s intricate dance with time has always fascinated scientists, and a recent breakthrough by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Assistant Professor Arkarup Banerjee and his team sheds new light on how the brain navigates the complexities of temporal processing.
In a study involving Alston’s singing mouse, a remarkable species from Costa Rica known for its audible vocalizations, researchers sought to unravel the mysteries of how the brain adapts to varying tempos. The mice, engaging in duets that varied in length and speed, became key players in uncovering the brain’s temporal secrets.
The team focused on the orofacial motor cortex (OMC), a region in the mice’s brains associated with vocalization. Through weeks of analysis and engaging in simulated duets with the mice, researchers recorded the activity of OMC neurons. What they discovered was a phenomenon known as temporal scaling.
Rather than encoding absolute time like a clock, OMC neurons exhibited the ability to track relative time. “They actually slow down or speed up the interval. So, it’s not like one or two seconds, but 10%, 20%,” explains Banerjee.
This groundbreaking finding offers insights into the neural basis of vocal communication in mice and also suggests broader implications for understanding time processing in the human brain. Banerjee believes that this mechanism extends beyond language and music, potentially explaining how time is computed in various brain regions, enabling adaptive behaviors.
"The cortex exists to add flexibility to behavior. It's this three-pound block of flesh that allows you to do everything from reading a book to sending people to the moon."
The implications of this discovery are vast, reaching into the realms of technology, education, and therapy. As Banerjee points out, understanding how the brain adapts to different tempos and durations could revolutionize our approach to learning, interaction, and cognitive therapies.
This research not only unveils the intricate workings of our brains but also brings us one step closer to comprehending the complexities that make us uniquely human. In the symphony of life, the brain’s ability to bend time may hold the key to unlocking countless possibilities for the future.