Traversing Scales of Brain and Behavioral Organization I: Concepts and Experiments

摘要: In this paper, and the ones following, we will present an approach to understanding behavior, brain relation between them. The contribution provides a sketch of strategy have adopted toward brain-behavior relation, notes its main tenets applies them new very specific experiment that uses large scale SQuID arrays determine how human times individual actions environmental events. A second paper (Fuchs, Jirsa Kelso volume) describe in more detail various methods others used analyze visualize spatiotemporal activity extract relevant features from experimental data. Finally, third (Jirsa, Fuchs spell out theory, grounded neuroanatomy neurophysiology cerebral cortex, serves connect neural behavioral levels description for paradigmatic case bimanual coordination. Our collective goal these three papers is set stage principled move phenomenological laws at level mechanisms underlie With respect history science our entirely conventional. Fundamentally, it begins with identification macroscopic behavior system attempts derive below. Even physical systems, however, derivation “macro” “micro” nontrivial. Only 70’s, example, was first possible ferromagnets (as described by Landau’s mean field theory) fundamental grounds using so-called renormalization group method earned Kenneth Wilson Nobel Prize 1982. Likewise, took genius Hermann Haken far equilibrium like laser quantum mechanics (Haken 1970). Thus, some 70 years after atoms were discovered did become properties certain materials optical devices microscopic basis, only then rather sophisticated mathematical techniques.