A generalized scaling law reveals synchrony-driven reorganization of brain dynamics across human lifespan.

A generalized scaling law shows that brain synchrony inversely affects neural variability across the human lifespan, with a notable reduction in the scaling exponent in aging and ADHD.

• Why it matters: Understanding how brain network dynamics relate to age and neuropsychiatric conditions can improve insights into brain function and disease, filling a gap in knowledge about neural scaling laws.
• What they did: Researchers extended Taylor's law by replacing the mean with the RMS to analyze neural signals, then applied this to fMRI data from 840 individuals aged 18-88, assessing synchrony and scaling relationships.
• The result: Findings reveal that higher synchrony reduces the scaling exponent, especially during tasks and in specific brain subnetworks, suggesting potential markers for healthy aging and neuropsychiatric disorders.