SMRTR Science & EngineeringSep 6, 2025Scientific American

Newfound 'Reality Signal' Helps the Brain Tell Imagination from Real Life

SMRTR summary

Neuroscientists have identified a brain circuit that helps distinguish reality from imagination, featuring a "reality signal" in the fusiform gyrus and evaluation by the anterior insula. This breakthrough could advance understanding of schizophrenia and other disorders where reality perception is impaired, as researchers discovered that when participants imagined patterns matching what they were viewing, they often mistook imagination for reality.

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