New Tools Drive New Concepts into Neuroscience

Luis H. Favela (University of Central Florida)

Abstract:  Increases in the spatial and temporal resolution of data obtained from neuronal activity are largely enabled by technological innovations, for example, single neurons integrating inputs from thousands of other neurons and then distributing energy back to the network. Revealing this neuronal avalanche behavior required technology able to capture particular spatial and temporal distributions, specifically, multielectrode arrays. Accordingly, such experimental work can be viewed as a tool-driven advance in our understanding of neurophysiology. However, such experimental work is also a concept-driven advance as well, in that such phenomena are more accurately explained and understood by concepts and theories not typically employed in contemporary neuroscience. Neuronal avalanches demonstrate features commonly found in complex systems, for example, criticality, emergence, nonlinearity, and self-organization. Though some try to fit such features into more traditional frameworks, others realize the necessity of importing new concepts and theories into neuroscience.