When thinking, the human brain performs a true masterpiece of information processing: around 100 billion neurons communicate with each other via approximately 100 trillion connections. An international team of researchers, including scientists from the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin (MPZPM), has discovered that the mechanical properties of the developing brain influence both synapse formation and the emergence of electrical signals. The findings could open up new approaches to understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.