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Brain activity is not only for thinking
Timothy O Laumann1, Abraham Z Snyder2,3
1Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, United States.
Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Spontaneous brain activity, measured by BOLD signals, may primarily support brain maintenance and learning rather than real-time cognitive tasks. This research explores its role in synaptic plasticity and homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- The human brain performs complex tasks including perception, learning, and lifelong maintenance.
- Neural activity underlies these functions, with spontaneous Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent (BOLD) signals proposed as a key indicator.
- The precise function of spontaneous BOLD activity remains debated in scientific literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current understanding of spontaneous BOLD signals in the context of brain function.
- To explore the relationship between spontaneous BOLD activity, learning, and brain maintenance mechanisms.
- To propose a novel interpretation of spontaneous BOLD signals' role.
Main Methods:
- Review of learning machine theory.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms in synaptic plasticity and homeostasis.
- Synthesis of recent experimental evidence on spontaneous BOLD activity.
Main Results:
- Spontaneous BOLD activity is potentially linked to off-line brain processes.
- Evidence suggests a stronger alignment with synaptic plasticity and homeostasis than with on-line cognitive processes.
- The review integrates theoretical frameworks with empirical findings.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous BOLD activity may play a crucial role in brain plasticity and homeostatic regulation.
- This activity might be more involved in brain maintenance and learning consolidation than in immediate cognitive processing.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the function of spontaneous BOLD signals.
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