Your brain’s wiring diagram is actually two completely separate, specialized networks hiding in plain sight.
April 3, 2026
Original Paper
Thermodynamic connectivity reveals functional specialization and multiplex organization of extrasynaptic signaling
arXiv · 2604.02057
The Takeaway
Even though we’ve mapped every neuron in some simple animals, we didn't realize they use two distinct communication systems—one for fast movement and another for long-term survival. These systems aren't redundant; they are precisely divided into different 'departments' of the brain.
From the abstract
Neural communication operates on both fast synaptic transmission and slower, diffusive extrasynaptic signaling, yet how these two modes jointly organize brain function remains unclear. Here, using the complete synaptic and neuropeptidergic connectomes of \emph{Caenorhabditis elegans}, we develop a unified multiplex framework linking anatomical wiring to functional communication. We infer structure-derived functional connectivity from the synaptic connectome using equilibrium principles from stat