Abstract
Cognitive brain functions including sensory processing and control of behavior are understood as "neurocomputation" in axonal-dendritic synaptic networks of "integrate-and-fire" neurons. Cognitive neurocomputation with consciousness is accompanied by 30- to 90-Hz gamma synchrony electroencephalography (EEG), and non-conscious neurocomputation is not. Gamma synchrony EEG derives largely from neuronal groups linked by dendritic-dendritic gap junctions, forming transient syncytia ("dendritic webs") in input/integration layers oriented sideways to axonal-dendritic neurocomputational flow. As gap junctions open and close, a gamma-synchronized dendritic web can rapidly change topology and move through the brain as a spatiotemporal envelope performing collective integration and volitional choices correlating with consciousness. The "conscious pilot" is a metaphorical description for a mobile gamma-synchronized dendritic web as vehicle for a conscious agent/pilot which experiences and assumes control of otherwise non-conscious auto-pilot neurocomputation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 71-93 |
Number of pages | 23 |
Journal | Journal of Biological Physics |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2010 |
Keywords
- Action potentials
- Brain
- Cognition
- Computer worm
- Connexin
- Consciousness
- Dendrites
- EEG
- Electroencephalography
- Gamma synchrony
- Gap junctions
- Integrate and fire
- Integration
- NCC
- Neural correlate of consciousness
- Neural networks
- Neuron
- Spikes
- Volition
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology