{
  "abstract": "Neuroscience hypothesizes a canonical microcircuit subserving cortical computation across brain systems. In artificial intelligence, neural networks have become a universal computational substrate. Here, we leverage newly available large-scale data and mapping techniques to compare neural network motifs to the brain. We embedded a spectrum of candidate microcircuit architectures within a common spatial macrocircuit, measuring alignment with an extensive battery of cortical signatures. We find that one specific circuit type--the transformer--uniquely captures fine-grained unit-level circuit details, population-level functional maps and neuronal activity patterns, and systems-level wiring efficiency and behavioral demands. The key ingredient enabling the transformer's success is a learned multiplicative component making relational information available without extensive long-range wiring. These results suggest striking convergence between computational motifs in natural and artificial intelligence.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Stanford University"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Y. Shah"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. L. K. Yamins"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/101ygp3x2g1c7.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.11.01.763457",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.01.763457v1.full",
  "id": "101ygp3x2g1c7",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.01.763457v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "neuroscience"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.01.763457v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/101ygp3x2g1c7.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:21:09Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.11.01.763457",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.01.763457v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The transformer as a candidate canonical cortical microcircuit",
  "title_text": "The transformer as a candidate canonical cortical microcircuit",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T00:21:19Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/101ygp3x2g1c7",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}