Changes in Brain Signal Variability as a Function of Learning and Expertise in Lexical Decision Making

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In relating brain signals to cognition, the assumption is that behavioural processes will activate key regions of the brain. Much like a computer, the region is 'on' when the process it supports is required, and 'off' when the process is not required. Some critical features of brain organization suggest that we need to rethink this idea. Researchers have shown that the brain relies on both activity and variability to ensure optimal function, and that brain regions produce variable signal at all times (even when they are 'off' in the computer analogy). In fact, brain signal variability allows people to respond quickly and flexibly to environmental demands. Instead of a computer that turns on and off, think of the brain as a system in constant motion, and think of variability as the kinetic energy that allows this system to move easily from one network to another.