Scientists may be a step closer to understanding one of the most brilliant minds ever to grace the field, that of Albert Einstein, the man who unravelled the mysteries of the atom.

Researchers at Lausanne University identified an unknown role for a type of brain cell that Einstein is thought to have had in more copious supply than the average male. The scientists said the cells provided energy for neural circuits and helped build connections, leading to a more complex brain structure.

The team, led by Andrea Volterra, investigated specialised cells known as glial cells, which, it was originally believed, helped hold neurons together but did little else. In recent years, the cells have given up some of their secrets and are now thought to play a crucial role in brain activity. Researchers found that glial cells ferry calcium to surrounding neurons and control messages around the brain.