Summary: Findings shed new light on how brain states are regulated and how the brain can switch between them.

Source: University of Oregon

Even when at rest, the brain is never truly quiet.

New research in mice sheds light on the seemingly random brain signals that hum in the background of brains. These signals might help the brain switch between states of inattention or disengagement and states of optimal performance, UO researchers reported Oct. 14 in the journal Neuron.