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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
09:48
Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
Published on: September 11, 2017
Cortical basis of communication: local computation, coordination, attention
1LORIA-INRIA BP 239, F-54506 Vandoeuvre, France. frederic.alexandre@loria.fr
Summary
Human communication relies on generic cortical processing, which builds abstract internal referents for memory. These referents enable coordination and attention, forming the basis of human communication.
Area of Science:
- Computational Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Human communication originates from cortical processing on a repetitive neuronal substrate.
- The generic nature of cortical processing is a key focus in computational neuroscience modeling.
- Current theories of embodied cognition utilize generic cortical processing for representational coordination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how abstract internal referents are constructed for memory requirements within the context of visual attention.
- To propose that these abstract referents form the foundation of human communication.
- To characterize human communication as a coordination and attentional procedure.
Main Methods:
- Modeling works in computational neuroscience exploring information flow in cortical circuitry.
- Analysis of visual attention as a case study for representational coordination.
- Theoretical framework based on minimalist principles for embodied cognition.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that generic cortical processing is exploited for coordinating representational poles, exemplified by visual attention.
- Showcased the construction of abstract internal referents to meet memory demands.
- Highlighted the role of these referents in enabling communication.
Conclusions:
- Abstract internal referents, built for memory, are fundamental to human communication.
- Human communication is primarily an act of coordination and attentional alignment with others.
- The study provides a novel perspective on the neurobiological underpinnings of communication.
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