Professor Earl Miller discusses the hypothesis that an entire network of neurons are required to perceptually identify a single object.
Transcript:
Well does it take a whole network to describe a single concept or stimulus? We don't really know the answer to that yet. We think that it probably takes a whole network of neurons because there is no strong evidence in the brain for something called grandmother cells. That is a single neuron that responds to a single percept or concept. Rather, when you think of a concept or you experience something, you're activating networks of neurons all over the brain and they may all contribute to your internalized thought of that percept or concept.
Professor Earl Miller explains that that the term 'plasticity' is used by neuroscientists to refer to the fact that the brain changes as a result of experience.
Networks are the engines that drive our brain, they exist at every level of organization. Genes, proteins, and neurons all form highly integrated complex networks.
Professor Earl Miller explain that the brain, unlike a computer, processes information in a parallel manner. This makes for quick identification of objects.
Professor Earl Miller explains that the visual cortex, inferior temporal cortex, and prefrontal cortex perform distinct functions in object identification.
Doctor Abraham Zangen discusses the key structures underlying the brain reward system, a complex neural network that includes the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus.