Wider Than the Sky: An Alternative to "Mapping" the World Onto the Brain.
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| Title: | Wider Than the Sky: An Alternative to "Mapping" the World Onto the Brain. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Barwich, Ann‐Sophie (AUTHOR), Firestein, Stuart J. (AUTHOR), Dietrich, Michael R. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | European Journal of Neuroscience. Aug2025, Vol. 62 Issue 4, p1-23. 23p. |
| Subjects: | Neurosciences, Olfactory perception, Sensory neurons, Cognitive science, Cognitive maps (Psychology), Neural codes, Routing algorithms, Critical thinking |
| Abstract: | This paper reevaluates the conventional topographic model of brain function, stressing the critical role of philosophical inquiry in neuroscience. Since the 1930s, pioneering studies by Penfield and subsequent advancements in visual neuroscience by Hubel and Wiesel have popularized the concept of cortical maps as representations of external and internal states. Yet contemporary research in various sensory systems, including visual cortices in certain animals, questions the universal applicability of this model. We critique the restrictive influence of this paradigm and introduce an alternative conceptualization using the olfactory system as a model. This system's genetic diversity and dynamic neural encoding serve as a foundation for proposing a rule‐based, adaptive framework for neural processing, akin to the dynamic routing in GPS technology, which moves beyond fixed spatial mappings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of European Journal of Neuroscience is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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