Abstract
With the technical means available today it is possible to define and describe any neurone of the nervous system in exact quantitative terms (numerical: for numbers of various types of synapses received or given, distribution [spatial groups], etc.; geometrical: for size, shape, volume, orientation of both dendritic and axonal arborization; topological [edges, apexes]). This revolution in neuroanatomical techniques began with the development of new antero- and retrograde tracing methods (uptake and transport, both by nerve cells and by terminal arborizations of radiolabeled amino acids [occasionally other metabolites and/or mediators], of fluorescent dyes, enzymes — e.g. horseradish peroxidase [HRP] — cobalt compounds, etc). The next step was the combination of various classical and more recent histological procedures, like the Golgi precipitation, labeling with horseradish peroxidase, and by anterograde secondary axonal degeneration, performed simultaneously on the same neural structures and making possible the recovery under the electron microscope (in ultrathin section series) of any specific detail (especially of a given synapse) previously identified in the light microscope. Whole networks of mutually coupled neurones could be thus defined with hitherto unexpected clarity (Somogyi, Hodgson and Smith, 1979).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Barlow, H.B. (1981) Critical limiting factors in the design of the eye and visual cortex, Proc Roy. Soc. B: 212, 1–34
Barlow, H.B. (1985a) Cerebral cortex as model builder, In: Models of the visual cortex Rose, D. and Dobson, V.G., eds., Wiley: New York, pp 37–46
Barlow, H.B. (1985b) The role of single neurones in the psychology of perception, Quart, exp. Psychol. 37A, 121–145
Changeux, J.P. and Danchin, A. (1976) Selective stabilization of developing synapses as a mechanism for the specification of neuronal networks, Nature 264, 705–712
Edelman, G.M. (1978) Group selection and phasic signaling: A theory of higher brain function. In: The Mindful Brain Edelman, G.M. and Mountcastle, V.B., eds., MIT Press: Cambridge, pp 51–100
Edelman, G.M. (1984) Modulation of cell adhesion during induction, histogenesis, and perinatal development of the nervous system, Ann. Rev. Neurosci. 7, 339–377
Edelman, G.M. and Finkel, L.H. (1982) Neuronal group selection in the cerebral cortex. 1st Symposium of the Neuroscience Institute, La Jolla, 3–8 October
Érdi, P. and Barna, G. (1984) Self-organizing mechanism for the formation of ordered neural mappings. Biol. Cybernetics 51, 93–101
Érdi, P. and Szentágothai, J. (1985) Neural connectivities between determinism and randomness. In: Dynamics of macrosystems. Aubin, J.P., Saari, D. and Sigmund, K., eds., Lect. Notes in Econ. and Math. Systems 257, 21–29, Springer: Berlin
Freeman, W.J. (1983) The physiological basis of mental images. Biol. Psychiatry 18, 1107–1125
Freeman, W.J. and Skarda, C. (1985) Spatial EEG patterns, non-linear dynamics and perception: the neo-Sherringtonian view. Brain Res. Rev. 10, 147–175
Gabbott, P.L.A. and Somogyi, P. (1986) Quantitative distribution of GABA-immunoreactive neurones in the visual cortex (area 17) of the cat, Exp. Brain Res. 61, 323–431
Goldman, P. and Nauta, W.J.H. (1977) Columnar distribution of cortico-cortical fibers in the frontal association, limbic and motor cortex of the developing Rhesus monkey, Brain Res. 122, 393–413
Goldman-Rakic, P.S. (1984) Modular organization of prefrontal cortex, Trends in Neurosci. 7, 419–424
Goldman-Rakic, P.S. and Schwartz, M.L. (1982) Interdigitation of contralateral and ipsilateral columnar projections to frontal association cortex in primates, Science 216, 755–757
Grossberg, S. (1982) Associative and competitive principle of learning and development: The temporal unfolding and stability of STM and LTM patterns. In: Competition and Cooperation in Neural Nets Amari, S.I. and Arbib, M.A., eds., Springer: Berlin, pp 295–341
Haken, H. (1978) Synergetics. An introduction. 2nd edition. Springer: Berlin
Heidmann, A., Heidmann, T. and Changeux, J.P. (1984) Stabilization selective de représentation neuronales par resonance entre “préreprésentations” spontanées du réseau cérébral et “percepts” evoqués par interaction avec le monde extérieur, C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris 299, 839–844
Hirsch, H.V.B. and Spinelli, D.N. (1979) Visual experience modifies distribution of horizontally and vertically oriented receptor fields in cats, Science 168, 869–871
Hubel, D.H. and Wiesel, T.N. (1970) The period of susceptibility to the physiological effects of unilateral eye closure in kittens, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 206, 419–436
Hopfield, J.J. (1982) Neural networks and physical systems with emergent collective computational abilities. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79, 2554–58
Horsthemke, W. and Lefever, R. (1984) Noise-induced Transitions: Theory and Applications in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Springer: Berlin, 318 p
Kisvárday, Z.F., Martin, K.A.C., Whitteridge, D. and Somogyi, P. (1985) Synaptic connections of intracellularly filled clutch cells: a type of small basket cell in the visual cortex of the cat, J. Comp. Neurol. 241, 11–137
Kohonen, T. (1982) Self-organized formation of generalized topological maps of observations in a physical system. Biol. Cyber. 43, 59–69
Luhmann, H.J., Martinez-Millan, L. and Singer, W. (1986) Development of horizontal intrinsic connections in cat striate cortex Exp. Brain Res. 63, 443–448
Martin, K.A., Somogyi, P. and Whitteridge, D. (1983) Physiological and morphological properties of identified basket cells in the cat’s visual cortex Exp. Brain Res. 50, 193–200
Martin, K.A.C. and Whitteridge, D. (1984) Form, functions, and intracortical projections of spiny neurones in the cat’s visual cortex, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 353, 463–504
Mountcastle, V.B. (1978) An organizing principle of cerebral functions: The unit module and the distributed system. In: The Mindful Brain. Edelman, G.M. and Mountcastle, V.B., eds., M.I.T. Press: Cambridge, pp 7–50
Nicolis, G. and Prigogine, I. (1977) Self-organization in non-equilibrium systems. Wiley: New York
Pellionisz, A. and Llinás, R. (1979) Brain modeling by tensor network theory and computer simulation. The cerebellum: Distributed processor for predictive co-ordination. Neuroscience 4, 323–348
Pellionisz, A. and Llinás, R. (1985) Cerebellar function and the adaptive feature of the central nervous system. In: Adaptive Mechanisms in Gaze Control, eds. A. Berthoz and G. Melvill-Jones, eds., Elsevier: Amsterdam, pp 223–232
Pettigrew, J.D. (1974) The effect of visual experience on the development of stimulus specificity by kitten cortical neurones, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 237, 49–74
Rakic, P. (1984a) Organizing principles for development of primate cerebral cortex, In: Organizing Principles of Neural Development, Sharma, S.C. ed. Plenum: New York, pp 21–48
Rakic, P. (1984b) Emergence of neuronal and glial cell lineages in primate brain, In: Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neuronal Development, Black, I.B., ed. Plenum: New York, pp 29–50
Rockel, A.J., Hiorns, R.W. and Powell, T.P.S. (1980) The basic uniformity in structure of the neocortex. Brain 103, 221–244
Somogyi, P., Hodgson, A.J. and Smith, A.D. (1979) An approach to tracing neurone networks in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. Combination of Golgi staining, retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase and anterograde degeneration of synaptic boutons in the same material Neuroscience 4, 1805–1852
Somogyi, P., Kisvárday, Z.F., Martin, K.A.C. and Whitteridge, D. (1983) Synaptic connections of morphologically identified and physiologically characterized large basket cells in the striate cortex of cat. Neuroscience 10, 261–294
Somogyi, P. and Soltész, I. (1986) Immunogold demonstration of GABA in synaptic terminals of intracellularly recorded, horseradish peroxidase-filled basket cells and clutch cells in the cat’s visual cortex, Neuroscience (in the press)
Stryker, M.P. (1982) Role of visual afferent activity in the development of ocular dominance columns. Neurosci. Res. Progr. Bull. 20, 540–549
Szentágothai, J. (1978) The neurone network of the cerebral cortex. A functional interpretation. The Ferrier Lecture 1977. Proc. Roy. Soc. B: 201, 219–248
Szentágothai, J. (1983) The “modular” architectonic principle of neural centres. Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol. Vol. 98 Springer: Berlin
Szentágothai, J. (1984) Downward causation. Ann. Rev. Neurosci. 7, 1–11
Szentágothai, J. (1985) Theorien zur Organisation und Funktion des Gehirns, Naturwissenschaften 72, 303–309
Szentágothai, J. and Arbib, M. (1974) Conceptual models of neural organization, Neurosci. Res. Prog. Bull. 12, 307–510
von der Malsburg, Ch. (1973) Self-organization of orientation sensitive cells in the striate cortex. Kybernetik 14, 80–100
Wilson, H.R. and Cowan, J.D. (1973) A mathematical theory of the functional dynamics of cortical and thalamic nervous tissue. Kybernetik 13, 55–80
Woolsey, T.A. and van der Loos, H. (1970) The structural organization of layer IV in the somatosensory region (SI) of mouse cerebral cortex, Brain Res. 17, 205–242
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1987 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Szentágothai, J. (1987). The Architecture of Neural Centres and Understanding Neural Organization. In: McLennan, H., Ledsome, J.R., McIntosh, C.H.S., Jones, D.R. (eds) Advances in Physiological Research. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9492-5_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9492-5_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-9494-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-9492-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive