Abstract
Collicular neurones impress strongly by the specific branching mode of their dendrites. In dependence on localization within the superior colliculus (SC) generalized (isodendritic) and specialized (allodendritic) branching patterns can be found in the deep and superficial layers, respectively. These structural differences are correlated with distinct functional roles in information processing: deep layer neurones (TRSNs) get multimodal afferences, whereas superficial layer neurones (SLNs) receive exclusively unimodal (visual) inputs [11,12]. As in biology in general, the structure-function relationship is the central question in neurobiology. The paradigm of self-organization currently being discovered in physics and biology should allow to overcome the undialectic separation of structure (or form) and function which arose historically in biology due to the absence of precise concepts [7]. The unity of structure and function is a fundamental of any theory of self-organization: the developing structure corresponds to its function, and vice versa.
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Schierwagen, A.K. (1987). Dendritic Branching Patterns. In: Degn, H., Holden, A.V., Olsen, L.F. (eds) Chaos in Biological Systems. NATO ASI Series, vol 138. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9631-5_22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9631-5_22
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