Neural energy metabolism encodes directed communication across the human cortex
Belenya, R.; Epp, S.; Bose, A.; Hechler, A.; Fraticelli, L.; Ashrafi, M.; Ranft, A.; Yakushev, I.; Kurcyus, K.; Castrillon, G.; Riedl, V. · neuroscience · 2026-09-04 · 原文
DOI：10.64898/2026.05.28.728560作者：11 位
Complex cognition depends on directed communication between brain regions. Yet, resting functional MRI resolves only undirected associations, and inferring the direction of signalling has proven difficult across the whole brain. Because synaptic transmission is metabolically asymmetric, with the postsynaptic neuron bearing most of the energetic cost, regional energy demand carries a physical signature of the direction of communication. Here, we show that this signature organizes the human cortex into a reproducible directed hierarchy, in which sensory and attentional systems preferentially drive higher-order networks, while the default mode and control networks act as principal receivers. Critically, the inferred directionality is independently predicted by two cellular markers of neuronal energy demand, regional mitochondrial density and laminar cytoarchitecture, linking macroscale information flow to its cellular substrate. The directed architecture recapitulates the known feedforward and feedback organization of visual pathways and, using an average CMRGlc template, extends to functional MRI acquired without PET. By grounding communication direction in energy metabolism, Metabol
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1. 人话版
Complex cognition depends on directed communication between brain regions.
Yet, resting functional MRI resolves only undirected associations, and inferring the direction of signalling has proven difficult across the whole brain.
2. 领域脉络
本文类目：neuroscience，属于其所在研究脉络的最新进展。
3. 机制拆解
Because synaptic transmission is metabolically asymmetric, with the postsynaptic neuron bearing most of the energetic cost, regional energy demand carries a physical signature of the direction of communication.
Here, we show that this signature organizes the human cortex into a reproducible directed hierarchy, in which sensory and attentional systems preferentially drive higher-order networks, while the default mode and control networks act as principal receivers.
Critically, the inferred directionality is independently predicted by two cellular markers of neuronal energy demand, regional mitochondrial density and laminar cytoarchitecture, linking macroscale information flow to its cellular substrate.
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