Generation and reshaping of sequences in neural systems

• Published in: Biological cybernetics Vol. 95; no. 6; pp. 519 - 536
• Main Authors: Rabinovich, Mikhail I., Huerta, Ramón, Varona, Pablo, Afraimovich, Valentin S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01.12.2006
• Subjects: Animals; Clione; Cognitive ability; Cybernetics; Decision analysis; Decision Making; Intelligent systems; Learning - physiology; Mathematical models; Mathematics; Models, Neurological; Mollusca; Mollusks; Nerve Net; Nervous system; Neural coding; Neurology; Neurons - metabolism; Olfactory Pathways - anatomy & histology; Olfactory Pathways - physiology; Sequences; Shellfish; Smell - physiology; Swimming
• ISSN: 0340-1200; 1432-0770
• DOI: 10.1007/s00422-006-0121-5

The generation of informational sequences and their reorganization or reshaping is one of the most intriguing subjects for both neuroscience and the theory of autonomous intelligent systems. In spite of the diversity of sequential activities of sensory, motor, and cognitive neural systems, they have many similarities from the dynamical point of view. In this review we discus the ideas, models, and mathematical image of sequence generation and reshaping on different levels of the neural hierarchy, i.e., the role of a sensory network dynamics in the generation of a motor program (hunting swimming of marine mollusk Clione), olfactory dynamical coding, and sequential learning and decision making. Analysis of these phenomena is based on the winnerless competition principle. The considered models can be a basis for the design of biologically inspired autonomous intelligent systems.