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The topographic brain: from neural connectivity to cognition
Jean-Philippe Thivierge1, Gary F Marcus
1Département de Physiologie, Université de Montréal, C.P.6128 Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada. jean-philippe.thivierge@umontreal.ca
Trends in Neurosciences
|April 28, 2007
Summary
Ordered topography in the vertebrate brain, where neuronal connections map cell organization, may support cognitive functions like reasoning. Understanding these topographic maps is key to linking brain structure with cognition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Vertebrate brain organization features ordered topography, preserving relative cell organization in neuronal connections.
- Topography is observed in sensory pathways and higher brain centers, but its function in the latter is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel function for topographic maps in higher brain centers.
- To explore the role of topography in supporting computational processes for abstract cognitive representations.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis and theoretical modeling of topographic map functions.
- Literature review on neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and cognitive processes.
Main Results:
- Topographic maps may provide computational mechanisms for establishing one-to-one correspondences between abstract cognitive representations.
- This function could be crucial for complex cognitive tasks such as reasoning and analogy making.
Conclusions:
- A deeper understanding of topographic maps offers a new perspective on brain function.
- Investigating topographic maps can bridge the gap between genetics, neurophysiology, and cognition.
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