[Fis] Neuroinformation?

[Pedro C. Marijuan]

Dear Carolina and FIS colleagues,

Many thanks for your questions. They have motivated quite interesting 
responses--I agree with the very cogent comments raised. Only a few 
further matters to consider about neuroinformation. First, TOPOLOGY. I 
think all the mappings, gradients, inversions,  deletions, 
amplifications, etc. that exist among the neural surfaces constitute an 
essential ingredient. Without it, the mass of neural networks would be 
unable to perform any sophisticate neurocomputation (it is topology 
rather than mere topography, as all the irregularities conform strategic 
relationships of vicinity). Second, MOLECULAR SPECIFICITY, that relates 
to the vast number of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, hormones, 
neuropeptides etc. that guide the circulating electricity, organized in 
signaling pathways of amazing complexity (the postsynaptic sites are 
signaling theaters with more than a dozen pathways that also include 
local protein synthesis and degradation). All these molecular 
recognition events are decisive to orientate the electrical processing, 
and viceversa, electricity also guides the molecules... together they 
achieve information processing tied to the advancement and completion of 
a life cycle (this is crucial in my view). Third, OPTIMIZATION 
PRINCIPLE, combining minimization of neuronal free energy within a 
Bayesian scheme, one of the most advanced approaches is by Karl Friston 
(in a plethora of papers, he has an amazing productivity!). The book 
"Integral Biomathematics" (Simeonov, Smith, Ehresman eds., Springer 
2012) also contains very interesting discussions about the Bayesian 
Brain. And finally CONSCIOUSNESS... how fascinating is the 
organizational path from molecules to consciousness--but how much can we 
say bout that meaningfully? Neuroinformation, echoing previous comments, 
appears not as a concrete thing or item but as a gigantic network of 
processes, a very, very big and complex phenomenon...

By the way, Carolina, there is a very interesting implicit view of yours 
on the relationship between experimentalists and theoreticians---may I 
inquire about that? But sorry, you have received too many responses... 
take your time!

best ---Pedro

Carolina Isiegas wrote:
> Dear list,
>
>     I have been reading during the last year all these interesting 
> exchanges. Some of them terrific discussions! Given my scientific 
> backgound (Molecular Neuroscience), I would like to hear your point of 
> view on the topic of neuroinformation, how information "exists" within 
> the Central Nervous Systems. My task was experimental; I was 
> interested in investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying 
> learning and memory, specifically, the role of the cAMP-PKA-CREB 
> signaling pathway in such brain functions (In Ted Abel´s Lab at the 
> University of Pennsylvania, where I spent 7 years). I generated 
> several genetically modified mice in which I could regulate the 
> expression of this pathway in specific brain regions and in which I 
> studied the effects of upregulation or downregulation at the synaptic 
> and behavioral levels. However, I am conscious that the "information 
> flow" within the mouse Nervous System is far more complex that in the 
> "simple" pathway that I was studying...so, my concrete question for 
> you "Fishers" or "Fisers", how should we contemplate the micro and 
> macro structures of information within the neural realm? what is 
> Neuroinformation?
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
> -- 
> Carolina Isiegas


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Pedro C. Marijuán
Grupo de Bioinformación / Bioinformation Group
Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud
Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA)
Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, planta X
50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Tfno. +34 976 71 3526 (& 6818)
pcmarijuan.iacs at aragon.es
http://sites.google.com/site/pedrocmarijuan/
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