Towards a Theoretical Neuroscience: from Cell Chemistry to Cognition (eBook)

Introduction1. The nature of scientific understanding1.1 Understanding in the physical sciences 1.2 Complex physical systems and chaotic behaviour1.3 Complex control systems1.4 The brain and hierarchies of description1.5 The basis for understanding the brain1.6 Computer modelling and its limitations 1.7 Plan of the book 2. Higher Cognition2.1 Attention2.2 Memory2.3 Speech2.4 Arithmetic2.5 Face Recognition2.6 Emotions2.7 Hobbies and intellectual disciplines2.8 Tool Making2.9 Consciousness and self awareness.2.10 Individual Differences and Complex society2.11 Art, music and literature2.12 Higher cognition and the brain3. Brain Anatomy3.1 Major anatomical structures of the brain3.2 Roles of major anatomical structures3.3 Neurons, axons, dendrites and synapses3.4 Ion pumps 3.5 Ion channels3.6 Synapses and their response to an incoming action potential3.8 Generation of output action potentials3.9 Different types of neurotransmitter3.10 Flow of information between neurons3.11 Electrical Activity of the Brain3.12 Descriptive Gaps4. Neuron Physiology4.1 Neuron morphology and general electrical properties4.2 Molecules embedded in the neuron membrane4.3 Electrochemical signals within and between neurons4.4 Synapses and synaptic strengths4.5 Specific molecules4.6 Chemicals and information processing5. Intracellular message chains5.1 Gene expression5.2 Kinase cascades5.3 Neuron processes5.4 Multiple paths contribute to any neuron behaviour6. Major Anatomical Structures6.1 Sources of information6.2 High level structure of the human brain6.3 The Cortex6.4 The thalamus6.5 The basal ganglia6.6 The amygdala6.7 The hypothalamus and pituitary gland6.8 Habenula6.9 Cerebellum6.10 Basal forebrain6.11 Neurotransmitter distribution systems6.12 The hippocampal system6.13 Relating structure and function 7. Constraints on the physical architecture of the brain7.1 Conditions and behaviours7.2 Practical requirements7.3 Behavioural meanings of condition detections and exchanges7.4 Pressures on the definition of modules7.5 Hierarchy of modules and hierarchy of descriptions7.6 Sharing of resources across the processing of different input states7.7 Integration of module inputs on different levels of detail7.8 Limitations to receptive field changes7.9 Entanglement of condition definition and detection7.10 Corollaries of receptive field consistency7.11 Modulation of total receptive field detection7.12 Development of a modular hierarchy7.13 Cascades of condition definition/detection7.14 Associations between receptive fields and behaviours7.15 Types of behaviour7.16 Structure of competition7.17 Modulation of behaviour type7.18 Management of frequent action sequences7.19 Identification of provisional connections7.20 Practical requirements and architectural constraints 8. Appearance of architectural constraints in the brain8.1 Brain structures and information processes8.2 Information model for the cortex8.3 Information model for the thalamus8.4 Information model for the basal ganglia8.5 Information model for the amygdala and hypothalamus8.6 Information model for the hippocampal system8.7 Information model for the basal forebrain8.8 Information model for the cerebellum8.9 Information model for the neurotransmitter distribution systems8.10 Application of information models  9. Memory and the organisation of experience9.1 Organisation of experience into similarity circumstances9.2 Detection of similarity circumstances9.3 Semantic memory9.4 Priming memory9.5 Episodic memory9.6 Procedural memory9.7 Hierarchies of description10. Attention and working memory10.1 Attention10.2 Working memory10.3 Condition definition/detection resource sharing by frequency modulation 11. Understanding complex cognitive phenomena11.1 Imagined situations and false memories11.2 Familiarity and deja vu11.3 Prospective memory11.4 Speech processing11.5 Cognitive deficits following brain damage11.6 Consciousness and self awareness11.7 Literature, music and art12. Towards a Theoretical Neuroscience