Regensburg 2002 – scientific programme

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SYPH: Physik im Hirn - Physical Approaches to Brain Function

SYPH V: HV V

SYPH V.1: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 13, 2002, 17:10–17:50, H2

Neuronal hard- and software cooperate so as to optimize brain performance — •J. Leo van Hemmen — Physik Department, TU München

Neurons communicate by means of action potentials (spikes) that propagate along axons and convey information to other neurons via synapses. Neurons, axons, and synapses can be conceived of as ‘hardware’ whereas the synaptic strength incorporates the neuronal software, which is often, but not always, acquired through a learning process. In this review it is shown how a neuronal ‘map’ as a representation of the outside world cooperates with neuronal hardware so as to optimize brain performance in prey localization of several animals.

For example, visual and auditory maps are representations of the retina and the cochlea and provide us with spatial, temporal and, more generally, spatio-temporal maps of sensory activity. Temporal map formation and usage will be explained as an optimization process that is correlated with performance. Through their prey localization sand scorpion [1], barn owl [2], and clawed frog provide fascinating examples.

[1] W. Stürzl, R. Kempter, J.L. van Hemmen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84 (2000) 5668–5671

[2] C. Leibold, R. Kempter, J.L. van Hemmen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87/24 (2001) 248101