Neuromolecular computing: a new approach to human brain evolution
Abbreviated Journal Title
Biol. Cybern.
Keywords
LIPID-PROTEIN INTERACTIONS; SENSITIVE ION CHANNELS; LIMBIC STRUCTURES; CELL-SURFACE; MEMBRANES; COMPUTATION; ORGANIZATION; BILAYER; SINGLE; INTEGRATION; Computer Science, Cybernetics; Neurosciences
Abstract
Evolutionary approaches in human cognitive neurobiology traditionally emphasize macroscopic structures. It may soon be possible to supplement these studies with models of human information-processing of the molecular level. Thin-film, simulation, fluorescence microscopy, and high-resolution X-ray crystallographic studies provide evidence for transiently organized neural membrane molecular systems with possible computational properties. This review article examines evidence for hydrophobic-mismatch molecular interactions within phospholipid microdomains of a neural membrane bilayer. It is proposed that these interactions are a massively parallel algorithm which can rapidly compute near-optimal solutions to complex cognitive and physiological problems. Coupling of microdomain activity to permenant ion movements at ligand-gated and voltage-gated channels permits the conversion of molecular computations into neuron frequency codes. Evidence for microdomain transport of proteins to specific locations within the bilayer suggests that neuromolecular computation may be under some genetic control and thus modifiable by natural selection. A possible experimental approach for examining evolutionary changes in neuromolecular computation is briefly discussed.
Journal Title
Biological Cybernetics
Volume
81
Issue/Number
3
Publication Date
1-1-1999
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
189
Last Page
197
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0340-1200
Recommended Citation
"Neuromolecular computing: a new approach to human brain evolution" (1999). Faculty Bibliography 1990s. 2879.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib1990/2879
Comments
Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu