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Cells perform a staggering number of parallel computations. Neurons are cells, and perform these same calculations and more in addition to emitting spikes. Spik
by svnt 4y ago
Cells perform a staggering number of parallel computations. Neurons are cells, and perform these same calculations and more in addition to emitting spikes. Spikes, rather than being the major form of computation, appear instead to be a means of maintaining synchronization.
- dcow 4y agoI quite honestly did not think of it this way. But it makes some sense. I always thought cells perform, for lack of a better term, self-maintenance operations independently from their macro function (the receiving and emitting of spikes, in this case). I did not think of the internal operations of a cell being connected to the macro function in any sophisticated or meaningful way. I would love to inform myself better on this topic since it is not by area of expertise, and I have an admittedly cursory understanding.
- cjbgkagh 4y agoI do think the field of psychopharmacology is probably sufficient to give an appreciation of the complexity involved at the same time as being useful to the practical understanding of how medications (and food) change behavior. It's also well studied and there are good books. I think Dr Stahl's books are the university standard. Like a lot of science though I think much of it is 'current best guess'. For information on the modifying DNA expression in neurons that's under epigenetics and not as well studied.