Lőrincz András: Bridging Cortical Structure and Function

Lőrincz András: Bridging Cortical Structure and Function

Neurobiologists have a good understanding of what is occuring in the brain. However, they have difficulties explaining higher cognitive functions. Cognitive scientists, on the other hand, have built models about cognitive functions, but can hardly connect those to the neural substrate. Computational neuroscientists start from the very basic data and try to derive the brain from the electrical properties of neurons and their synapses. Developers in the field of artificial intelligence have produced a wi(l)d(e) variety of ’intelligent systems’ featuring ’intelligent behavior’, but are frustrated by the notion, because we are not having a good trip on the concept of intelligence. Our question is as follows: What if these pieces - neuroscience, cognitive science, theory and experiences from machine learning - are all needed to make one step further? This book intends to make this step by trying to satisfy the constraints of the different disciplines. The book is for those who are interested in the constraints and puzzles of intelligence and in the attempt that aims to resolve some of the central issues.