Models of brain organisation can overlook the role of the autonomic nervous system in cognitive processes. Here the authors show a link between the ascending arousal system and both low dimensional ne...

Analysis of cellular recordings from five phylogenetically diverse species uncovers a conserved, multiscale organization of neuronal activity that resolves disparate theories of brain function. This hierarchical structure allows the brain to operate across multiple timescales, enhances information flow, flexibly reconfigures activity during behavior, and balances functional resiliency with efficiency across scales.