How Brain-like is the Spinal Cord?: Interacting Cell Assemblies in the Nervous System

di Uwe Windhorst (Autore)

Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG, 2012

"Theorizing about brain functions is often considered slightly disreputable and anyhow a waste of time -perhaps even 'philoso- ical'" 1 P. S. CHURCHLAND At present there are no unanimously accepted general con­ cepts of brain operation and function. This is especially the case with regard to so-called "higher" functions such as per­ ception, memory or the coupling between sensory input and motor output. There are a number of different reasons for this. Some may be related to experimental limitations allowing the simultaneous recording of the activities of only a restricted number of neurones. But there are also conceptual difficulties hindering the transition from "single-neurone" schemes, in which neurones are assigned relatively specific tasks (such as feature detection), to more complex schemes of nerve cell as­ semblies (for a discussion of some of the difficulties see Abeles 1982; von der Malsburg 1981; Kriiger 1983). Whilst much is known about the basic properties and functions of single neu­ rones, whose operations we hope to understand in the foresee­ able future, this does not hold true in the same way for the working of large assemblies of neurones.

• Autore: Uwe Windhorst
• Editore: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG
• Collana: Studies of Brain Function
• Anno: 2012
• Rilegatura: Paperback / softback
• Pagine: 334 p.
• Dimensioni: 244 x 170 mm
• EAN: 9783642511226

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