Excitation and Inhibition: The Yin and Yang of the Brain
To make a working nervous system, only two forces are necessary: excitation and inhibition.…
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SOC
Gliders, Blinkers, and Pulsars: Complexity and the Game of Life
Previously on Knowing Neurons, we considered self-organized criticality (SOC) and network science (AKA graph theory) as two possible sources of complex behavior in the brain and other physiological systems. As…
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The Fugue of Life: Why Complexity Matters in Physiology and Neuroscience
People like simplicity. Each decade, corporate logos grow progressively minimalistic, pop songs use ever simpler melodies, and visual art embraces simpler compositions, as Monet gives way to Picasso and Picasso…
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Scale Invariance: A Cautionary Tale Against Reductionism
How long is the coast of Britain? It doesn’t matter how good your geography is — the answer depends on the size of your measuring stick. The coast of Britain…
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