The Neuron

QOTD

Christina Noll

Is "mind reading" possible?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Possibly in the future

(See movie: Strange Days, 1995)

Jason Castro

Are some emotions/impulses that helped early humans in life or death situations out of date for the modern human?

A. Yes

B. No

Linh Chung

The brain adapts and constantly changes in response to the changes in the environment as we learn, practice, and perceive sensory input. However, fMRI brain imaging technology shows that our brains make the decisions and/or actions before "we" do. Who's in charge - you or your brain?

a) I'm in charge

b) The brain

c) Both - They work together

d) Someone/something else

e) Not sure...

Zachary Arnold

The brain makes decisions before "we" do. Does free will actually exist?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Ask my brain..

D. I don’t know

Samantha Kerr

If I was to put Jim's brain in Sally's body, who would it be?

A. Sally

B. Jim

C. Neither

Madeline Montiel

If the mind were separate from the brain where would the mind be?

A. In the clouds

B. In a giant computer

C. In a different organ

D. Someone else generates it for us

E. ...

Emergence

(Now Imagine 10,000,000,000 gears, each interacting with 10,000 others..)

The Big Questions

What is the fundamental “unit” of cognition, and what does it do?? Neurons: they detect things, and share the results

How can simple detection produce complex cognition? Hierarchically-organized networks, lots of emergence

What are the biological mechanisms? Excitation vs. inhibition, salt, and synapses..

The Basic Unit of Cognition!?

Neurons are Detectors

Detector Model

Is it really all just detection?

Pandemonium!(Oliver Selfridge)

Feature Demons

1. Vertical Line: |

2. Horizontal Line: --

3. Up-Right Diagonal: /

4. Up-Left Diagonal: \

Cognitive Demons

5. T: 1,2

6. V: 3,4

7. A: 2,3,4

8. K: 1,3,4

Testing..

Testing..

Testing..

Testing..

Testing..

Testing..

Testing..

Testing..

Testing..

Ooops..

Ooops..

Ooops..

Ooops..

Pandemonium Summary

Maybe you can see how collective action of many detectors, organized hierarchically, could achieve more complex cognition?

But detection needs to be a lot more sophisticated..

31

Emer’s Brain: Detection Works!

Back to the Detector Model

How does it actually work?

The Tug-of-War

How strongly each guy pulls: I = g (E-Vm) = currentg = how many input channels are openE = driving potential (pull down for inhibition, up for excitation)Vm = the “flag” – reflects net balance between two sides

Relative Balance..

Equations (just for fun)!

36

The Synapse

The Full Story..

Let’s Talk about Dugs!

Most psychoactive drugs directly affect basic neural mechanisms, some in easy-to-understand ways.

Lets Talk Drugs..

A. I have used psychoactive drugs.

B. I have not used psychoactive drugs.

Rx

A. I have been diagnosed with a psychological disorder, and I am taking prescription meds for it.

B. I am taking prescription meds for a different type of disorder (not psych).

C. I am not taking prescription meds.

Rx

A. I am not taking prescription meds.

I am taking prescription meds, and the side effects are…

B. …minimal or nonexistent

C. …moderate

D. …severe

Other Rx

A. I have taken someone else’s prescription medication.

B. I have not taken someone else’s prescription medication.

Benzo, Valium, etc

Agonist for GABA inhibitory channels