Study Finds 'Unreliable' Brain Cells Help Organisms Distinguish Subtle Scent Differences Over Time

Research found two types of neurons "reliable cells" that consistently identify distinct odors, and "unreliable cells" that help distinguish similar scents over time.

Variability in neural response comes from a deeper brain circuit, suggesting it serves an important purpose.

Unreliable neurons may help organisms like fruit flies and mice tell apart very similar scents.

Findings could explain how we learn to differentiate between sensory inputs.

Introducing variability into AI models may make them better at continual learning and more discerning, like natural organisms.