Researchers Decode the Chemical Basis for Attention

Researchers from Newcastle University have found that the presence of certain chemicals helps us pay attention to our surroundings.

The changes in the brain chemicals affect both strength and clarity of the neuronal response to a given stimuli.

"When you communicate with others, you can make yourself better heard by speaking louder or by speaking more clearly. Neurons appear to do similar things when we're paying attention. They send their message more intensely to their partners, which compares to speaking louder. But more importantly, they also increase the fidelity of their message, which compares to speaking more clearly," said Alex Thiele, Professor of Visual Neuroscience and lead author of the study.

Researchers found that the quality of the brain's response is dependent on glutamate coupling to NMDA receptors that mediate the signals from one neuron to another.  Previous research from the university found that neurochemical acetylcholine helps the brain focus on a given task

The research was carried out in primates and for the first time, researchers have been able to decode attention at the receptor level.

"Our earlier work has shown that attention is able to affect the intensity of responses - in effect the loudness - by means of the brain chemical acetylcholine. Now we have shown that the fidelity of the response is altered by a different brain chemical system," Thiele added, according to a press release.

The study not only reveals how the brain pays attention to the environment, but also provides vital information for the understanding of certain mental disorders where people are unable to comprehend their surroundings such as attention deficit disorder and schizophrenia. Researchers believe that the study findings will aid the discovery and development of such brain disorders.

The study is published in the journal Neuron.