The ICN2 spin-off will collaborate with this prestigious US medical foundation and hospital to further develop its graphene Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) for the treatment of neurological disorders.

• The study, published in PLoS Computational Biology, shows that the balance between two types of inhibition regulates how brain rhythms communicate, enabling flexible and efficient information routing.
• The research was carried out by the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems (IFISC UIB-CSIC), the Institute for Neurosciences (IN CSIC-UMH), and Aix-Marseille University (France).

Photo: From left to right: researchers Santiago Canals, from the Institute for Neuroscience CSIC-UMH, Dimitrios Chalkiadakis, and Claudio Mirasso, from the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems UIB-CSIC.

When we recall something familiar or explore a new situation, the brain does not always use the same communication routes. An international study led by Claudio Mirasso at the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems (IFISC), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), and Santiago Canals at the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), a joint center of the CSIC and the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche, has discovered how the brain flexibly changes its communication pathways by modulating the balance between two fundamental inhibitory circuits.

These results, recently published in PLoS Computational Biology, show that this flexibility depends on the balance between two types of inhibitory mechanisms, which regulate the interaction between slow (theta) and fast (gamma) rhythms. Thanks to this mechanism, the brain can select different sources of information, such as sensory stimuli from the external environment or stored sensory experience from memory.

“The role of feedforward and feedback inhibition in modulating theta-gamma cross-frequency interactions in neural circuits.” Chalkiadakis D, Sánchez-Claros J, López-Madrona VJ, Canals S and Mirasso CR. PLoS Computational Biology, 2025. 21(8): e1013363.  

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013363 

To reach these conclusions, the researchers combined computational models with experimental recordings in the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory and navigation. They observed that in familiar environments, where sensory experiences are already known, neurons favor a direct communication mode that facilitates transmission from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus. In this mode, the reactivation of established memory is prioritized. By contrast, when facing novelty, the brain activates another mode that integrates memory reactivation with novel sensory inputs. In this mode, memory updating is prioritized.

Until now, it was thought that the phase of slow brain rhythms organized the amplitude of faster activity; however, this study demonstrates that the relationship is bidirectional: “This work provides a mechanistic explanation of how the brain flexibly changes communication channels depending on the context,” says Dimitrios Chalkiadakis, first author of the study. “By adjusting the balance between different types of inhibition, circuits define which inputs to prioritize, whether from memory-related pathways or from new sensory information,” highlights the researcher.

Through a theoretical framework integrating electrophysiological data from rats exploring new and familiar environments, the experts identified two modes of operation: in one, feedforward inhibition leads to gamma-to-theta interactions, while in the other, feedback inhibition produces theta-to-gamma interactions. Neuronal circuits in the brain naturally implement both modes of inhibitory connectivity. The study shows that the transition between them is continuous, and prioritizing one or the other depends solely on the strength of synaptic connections between neurons in the circuit. This allows the mode of operation to be flexibly adjusted to context and cognitive demands.

Coupling between fast and slow brain activity frequencies. Warm-colored areas indicate stronger interaction, in this case between gamma-band frequencies (Y axis) and theta-band frequencies (X axis). Intracranially recorded brain activity is overlaid in white.

Beyond memory

The study suggests that this flexible form of coordination between brain rhythms could extend to other cognitive functions, such as attention. In fact, recent work in humans shows patterns consistent with the computational model. This points to a general principle of the brain: the balance between inhibitory circuits is key to directing information within its complex network of connections.

“Our results help unify opposing views on how brain rhythms of different frequencies interact”, explains Mirasso. “Rather than being purely local or inherited from earlier regions, these rhythms emerge from the interaction between external inputs and local inhibitory dynamics. This dual mechanism enables the brain to optimize information processing under different conditions,” adds Canals.

Beyond memory and navigation, the findings could extend to other cognitive functions. Looking ahead, the researchers intend to expand their model to include a greater diversity of neuronal types and architectures specific to each brain region. The aim is to better understand how this balance is altered in pathologies such as epilepsy, addiction, or Alzheimer’s disease: “Studying these dynamics at a mechanistic level could ultimately inspire new therapeutic intervention strategies,” both authors conclude.

This work was made possible thanks to funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities through the R&D Project Program (Knowledge Generation and Research Challenges) and from the Spanish State Research Agency through the Severo Ochoa Centers of Excellence and the María de Maeztu Units of Excellence Program.

Source: Institute for Neurosciences CSIC-UMH (in.comunicacion@umh.es)  and Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems UIB-CSIC (agarcia@ifisc.uib-csic.es)

La entrada Brain rhythms reveal how the brain chooses routes to process information se publicó primero en Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante.

At month 18 of its three-year Horizon Europe project, the PEARL consortium has made decisive progress toward its target of 25% efficient, low-cost flexible perovskite solar cells with carbon electrodes. By combining cutting-edge materials research, pilot-scale roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing and comprehensive sustainability measures, partners across Europe have delivered a series of significant achievements.

The researchers have developed solar cells with an efficiency of over 21% on flexible PET substrates. The most important achievements of the project partners include:

– Power conversion efficiency of 21.6% through special surface treatments (molecular surface passivation with fullerene and silane self-assembled materials) was achieved by ICIQ.

– University of Rome Tor Vergata achieved 17.03 % using greener perovskite solvents and optimized blade-coating protocols.

– Finnish research organization VTT demonstrated a lab-scale champion cell power conversion efficiency of 14.8% with a new printing process (gravure printed perovskite with DMSO-based ink).

– 9.1% power conversion efficiency with a fully roll-to-roll slot-die coated perovskite stack was achieved by the Dutch research institute TNO.

In parallel, VTT and TNO have scaled up R2R coating and patterning to larger formats and developed flexible minimodules with an area of 36 cm² and a power conversion efficiency of 4.5%.

The consortium has also developed protective encapsulation that keeps the solar cells stable for over 2,000 hours under damp-heat conditions (85°C temperature and 85% humidity), proving their durability for real-world applications.

“Our flexible perovskite cells have already surpassed 21 % efficiency on bendable substrates, and we’ve demonstrated scalable roll-to-roll processes,” said Dr. Riikka Suhonen, PEARL Project Coordinator at VTT. “These achievements bring us firmly within reach of our 25 % target—paving the way to low-cost, high-performance solar modules for applications from building-integrated photovoltaics to the Internet of Things.”

Focus on sustainability

The consortium attaches great importance to sustainability. Initial life cycle assessments show that the use of carbon electrodes, recycled PET, and green energy can reduce the carbon footprint by more than 50%. In addition, processes have been developed to recover valuable materials such as lead and cesium from production waste, an important step toward a circular economy.

Outlook

In the second phase of the project, PEARL will further optimize its roll-to-roll pilot manufacturing processes, test larger modules for outdoor use, and publish the results of the life cycle assessments. The goal is to bring flexible solar cells to market for applications such as building-integrated photovoltaics and the Internet of Things. Deliverables will include an optimized module design report, R2R encapsulation processes, and pilot-scale production protocols that collectively establish Europe’s leadership in flexible perovskite PV manufacturing.

Together with its partners from the Network of EU-funded Perovskite projects, PEARL will be exhibiting at the joint stand F6 at EU PVSEC in Bilbao, September 22 to 24, 2025. PEARL is also represented at this conference as a panelist in the “Perovskite Innovation Roundtable: Driving EU Leadership in Perovskite Innovation” (Monday, September 25 at 17:00).

About PEARL:

The PEARL project aims to achieve improvements in solar energy technology by incorporating carbon electrodes into perovskite solar cell architecture. This enhancement is expected to lead to reduced material costs, increased device stability, simplified fabrication processes, and significantly lower emissions. The project started on 1^st October 2023 and will run 36 months. PEARL receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

The ICIQ research group led by Prof. Emilio Palomares is involved in the project, which is coordinated by Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy, and also counts with the collaboration of the  Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Dycotec Materials LTD, Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Saule Spółka Akcyjna and Eni SPA.

For more information, please visit the project’s website and follow us on LinkedIn.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 101122283.

La entrada Milestone in flexible perovskite solar cells: EU-funded PEARL consortium demonstrates roll-to-roll production se publicó primero en ICIQ.