Cognitive Phase Transitions in the Cerebral Cortex - Enhancing the Neuron Doctrine by Modeling Neural Fields

This intriguing book was born out of the many discussions the authors had in the past 10 years about the role of scale-free structure and dynamics in producing intelligent behavior in brains.

The microscopic dynamics of neural networks is well described by the prevailing paradigm based in a narrow interpretation of the neuron doctrine. This book broadens the doctrine by incorporating the dynamics of neural fields, as first revealed by modeling with differential equations (K-sets). The book broadens that approach by application of random graph theory (neuropercolation). The book concludes with diverse commentaries that exemplify the wide range of mathematical/conceptual approaches to neural fields.

This book is intended for researchers, postdocs, and graduate students, who see the limitations of network theory and seek a beachhead from which to embark on mesoscopic and macroscopic neurodynamics.

Presents a complex systems perspective of Cognition Demonstrates a new original view at cognition as a neural percolation process Includes commentaries by famous specialists in the neuro/brain-system

Inhalt

Walter Freeman's Legacy.- On the languages of brains.- Experimental Investigation of High-Resolution Spatio-Temporal Cortical Activity Patterns.- Heuristic Interpretation of Experimental Results as Cortical Phase Transitions.