A selection of facts and conjectures about the cerebral cortex inspired by the 
theory of cell assemblies

Braitenberg, V

doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-027351-8.50026-3

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A selection of facts and conjectures about the cerebral cortex inspired by the theory of cell assemblies

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Braitenberg, V
Former Department Structure and Function of Natural Nerve-Net, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Max Planck Society;
Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Braitenberg, V. (1981). A selection of facts and conjectures about the cerebral cortex inspired by the theory of cell assemblies. In G. Székely, E. Lábos, & S. Damjanovich (Eds.), Neural communication and control: Satellite Symposium of the 28th International Congress of Physiological Sciences (pp. 287-289). New York, NY, USA: Pergamon Press.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0013-F0E4-8

Abstract

This chapter presents a selection of facts and conjectures about the cerebral cortex inspired by the theory of cell assemblies. The cortex is essentially a system of pyramidal cells (Py-cells), coupled by short range and long range connections. Pyramidal cells are excitatory. There is great convergence and divergence in this system. The amount of excitation transmitted by one Py-cell to another is small compared to the threshold. It takes a number of active Py-cells to activate other Py-cells. The elements of the representation of things and events are sets of cortical Py-cells coupled by above average excitatory connections. Sets such as Hebb's cell assemblies ignite upon partial activation and stay active for some time. Besides the relation of belonging to the same cell assembly, which is reciprocal, cortical neurons or cell assemblies can also be tied by the asymmetrical relation of one follows the other.