Brain performs computations {brain computation}. Brain scanning and brain lesion analysis shows that brain regions mediate brain functions {localism}. Brain regions have functions, and brain functions involve several brain regions coordinating sequentially and simultaneously [Carter, 1999].
input and output
Neuron populations receive input-signal sets and calculate output-signal sets. For functions, brain has several paths that make same output from same input.
All central-nervous-system input goes to cerebellum, reticular formation, and thalamus. Input that can eventually cause sense qualities goes to sense neurons in thalamus and then cerebrum. Brain inputs and outputs coordinate. For example, motor neurons and muscle receptors link.
input and output: global information
All brain information uses many neurons, which process only local information, but result is global [Black, 1991].
input and output: convergence
Inputs from different cortical regions {convergence region, vision} converge on cortical regions {convergence zone}. Convergence-zone output includes feedback to input cortical regions. Brain has more than 1000 convergence regions and more than 100 convergence zones.
input and output: distributed processing
Brain has many recurrent, lateral intracortical connections, and neurons receive from large spatial area. No neuron has simple direct circuit [Abbott et al., 1996] [Dayan and Abbott, 2001] [Rao et al., 2002] [Rolls and Deco, 2002] [Shadlen et al., 1996] [Zhang et al., 1998].
More than 50% of cortical neurons send output to distant cortical areas.
input and output: important information
Brain gives command to region with the most-important information.
coding
Information theory applies to neural coding, and one impulse can carry more than one information bit [Rieke et al., 1996] [Shannon and Weaver, 1949].
coding: repetition
Brain cells typically experience same correlations, associations, and comparisons many times. Processing in small brain region repeats often. Repetition improves efficiency as cells modify.
coding: electrochemical coding
Axon ion flows change voltage, and receptor-membrane neurotransmitters change voltage, so neuron coding is electrochemical.
coding: discrete coding
Neurons generate neurotransmitter packets and action potentials, rather than graded potentials, so information flows are discrete on-or-off sequences rather than continuously-varying voltages or currents.
coding: frequency code
Neuron impulse frequency indicates both time interval and intensity. Spike frequency F above normal frequency NF is constant C times power p of receptor displacement X from normal N: (F - NF) = C * (X - N)^p.
Neuron spike frequency never exceeds 800 spikes per second and never becomes 0. At rest, frequencies can be few per second or hundreds per second.
coding: information amount
If axon-hillock depolarization or no depolarization can happen every millisecond, millisecond intervals are either on or off. In 100 milliseconds, 2^100 bits can travel down axon. 2^100 bits is approximately 10^30 bits, which is approximately 1000^10 bits.
If number of possible letters, digits, and punctuation marks is 1000, 1000^10 bits can represent ten-letter words, labels, indexes, or pointers, so one neuron acting for 100 milliseconds can code for any ten-letter word. One hundred thousand neurons acting for 100 milliseconds can code for any million-letter string. One hundred thousand neurons acting for 100 milliseconds can code for any million-dot image, if dots can have 1000 levels of gray and color.
One hundred neurons acting for one millisecond can code for any ten-letter word. One neuron acting for 10^7 milliseconds, approximately 3 hours, can code for any million-letter string or million-dot image.
coding: summation
Axons depolarize for percentage of time. In time intervals, such as ten milliseconds, so short that receptors do not have time to change, depolarization sequences with same total number of depolarizations have equivalent physiological effects, no matter in what order signals arrived. In these cases, axon coding is not a significant factor, and irregular conduction rates do not matter. Ten-millisecond intervals have 10 instants that can be ON or OFF, and so intervals have 2^10 different possible sequences. However, such short time intervals have only 11 physiological possibilities: 0 to 10 total depolarizations.
computations
Neurons promote, amplify, block, inhibit, or attenuate signals. Neuron circuits can lower thresholds, switch signals, amplify signals, filter frequencies, set thresholds, control currents, direct flows, induce currents, control voltages, compare signals in time and space, add quantities, multiply quantities, and perform logical operations.
Most visual cortical neurons respond to line contrasting with background. Output maximizes if contrast is in receptive-field middle. Response falls off rapidly as contrast line moves to either side. Function looks like Gaussian distribution with large variance or looks like two sigmoidal functions joined at maximum. Most neurons behave like Gaussian HBF units, rather than multilayer-perceptron (MLP) sigmoidal units.
computations: potentiation
Nitric oxide from receptor neuron maintains sending-neuron long-term potentiation (LTP). Cyclic AMP second messenger sensitizes receptor neuron. NMDA glutamate receptors sensitize receptor neuron. Potentiation makes neuron reach threshold with lower input than normal excitation level.
computations: association by neurons
Interneuron can detect stimulus timing and amplitude between two pathways. Two pathways can both contact an interneuron that controls secondary circuit. If both pathways carry current simultaneously, secondary circuit maintains current. If both pathways carry no current or only one has current, secondary circuit has no current. Interneuron detects simultaneous pathway activation.
computations: conditional statement
Depolarization can happen only if all inputs to neuron are active. Depolarization can happen if one input to neuron is active. Depolarization can happen only if some inputs are active and some inactive.
computations: difference
Neurons compare signals to detect change or difference, rather than absolute values.
computations: feedback
Neuron circuits with excitatory and inhibitory feedback have short, synchronous discharges in local clusters.
computations: indexing system
Brains have index list to rapidly locate information.
computations: inhibition
Inhibition dampens neuron signals and more quickly returns neurons to resting states, allowing shorter time intervals and quicker responses. Between two stimuli, inhibition increases stronger signal and decreases competing weaker stimulus. Thus, inhibition can enhance weak stimulus that has only weaker stimuli nearby in space or time.
computations: inverse model
If supplied with sample responses, inverse model can predict input commands.
computations: movement initiation
Movement initiation and programming are separate asynchronous processes. Deciding to perform action corresponds to building positive feedback in limb premotor network.
computations: movement programming
Movement initiation and programming are separate asynchronous processes. Cerebellar cortex programs which movement to perform. Programming can happen while preparing movement or moving.
computations: positive whole numbers
Synaptic transmission uses neurotransmitter-molecule packets. Axon depolarizations are independent and countable. Therefore, neurons use whole number calculations and whole number ratios, with no fractions or real numbers. Because neurotransmitter molecules and axon depolarizations have no opposite, neurons use only positive numbers, never negative numbers.
computations: synchronizing
Neuron reciprocal interactions can synchronize signal phase, if reciprocal signal delay is less than one-quarter oscillation. Neuron excitatory reciprocal connections can find feature relations by enhancing, prolonging, and synchronizing neuron responses.
computations: timing
Brain uses time-delay circuits, inhibitory signals, and circuit-path rearrangements to time neuron events.
computations: transformations
Brain can use geometric ratios, translations, rotations, and orientations to represent distances and manipulate lines and shapes.
validation
Brain sends inputs along several paths to cross-validate processing and representations by comparing redundant process outputs.
Biological Sciences>Zoology>Organ>Nerve>Brain>Computation
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Date Modified: 2022.0224