The turbulent brain: Modeling vortex interactions for understanding human cognition
Gustavo Deco1,2,3, Yonatan Sanz Perl1,3,4, Jianfeng Feng5
1Center for Brain and Cognition, Computational Neuroscience Group, Faculty of Medicine and Life Science, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
Network Neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Human brain computation uses turbulent vortices for efficient information processing. This new model links these vortices to cognition, predicting cognitive abilities and distinguishing brain states.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Physics
Background:
- The human brain requires efficient, distributed computation for complex problem-solving.
- Turbulence offers a model for spacetime information processing, but its role in cognition is poorly understood.
- A mechanistic understanding of turbulent vortices in brain networks is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop the first whole-brain model of turbulent vortices to understand their role in human cognition.
- To investigate how local synchronization in brain signals quantifies turbulent interactions.
- To explore the potential of this framework for understanding brain computation and disease.
Main Methods:
- Utilized large-scale human neuroimaging data.
- Developed a whole-brain model based on turbulent vortices and local synchronization.
- Integrated the model with connectome-based predictive modeling.
Main Results:
- Turbulent vortex interactions provide a framework for understanding cognition and brain computation.
- The model successfully predicted the g-factor and task performance.
- Turbulent vortices distinguished between rest and cognitive states, and even subcomponents of cognitive tasks.
Conclusions:
- The whole-brain turbulent vortex framework offers a novel perspective on brain computation.
- This approach may reveal new methods for controlling turbulent interactions in neurological diseases.
- Understanding turbulent vortices is key to deciphering complex cognitive processes.
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