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The Noisy Brain

Stochastic Dynamics as a Principle of Brain Function

Edmund T Rolls author Gustavo Deco author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:28th Jan '10

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Noisy Brain cover

This insightful exploration of randomness in neuronal activity reveals its significance in decision-making, memory, and brain functions, as discussed in The Noisy Brain.

In The Noisy Brain, the authors delve into the intriguing randomness of neuronal activity within the brain. Neurons exhibit a 'noisy' behavior, where their firing times can appear random even when they are operating at a consistent rate. This randomness is not merely a nuisance; rather, it plays a crucial role in various cognitive processes. The book explores how this stochastic nature can be beneficial for decision-making, memory recall, and other essential brain functions.

The authors present a comprehensive examination of how the noise generated from random neuronal firing influences critical aspects of brain function. They argue that this randomness contributes positively to processes such as probabilistic decision-making, perception, and even creativity. However, the book also addresses the potential downsides, highlighting how unstable or overly stable dynamics can lead to dysfunctions in conditions like schizophrenia, normal aging, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The Noisy Brain offers a unifying computational framework that connects the properties of individual neurons to the larger network dynamics. Through modular chapters, the book provides insights into integrate-and-fire neuronal attractor networks and their implications for behavioral and neuroimaging data. It serves as a valuable resource for students and professionals in neuroscience, psychology, and related fields, and includes advanced discussions on the physics of stochastic dynamics in its appendix.

ISBN: 9780199587865

Dimensions: 253mm x 177mm x 20mm

Weight: 787g

314 pages