Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Brain as a Synergetic and Physical System

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Book cover Selforganization in Complex Systems: The Past, Present, and Future of Synergetics

Part of the book series: Understanding Complex Systems ((UCS))

Abstract

This paper presents an outline of our brain theory that we have developed over the past 30 years. Some remarks on the early stages of Synergetics that I initiated some 40 years ago are included. Using basic concepts of Synergetics such as order parameters and the slaving principle, brain functions are modeled both at the macroscopic (order parameter) and the microscopic (neuronal) levels. I deal with movement coordination, psychophysics (ambiguous figures), pattern recognition by the synergetic computer, my “light house model” of a neural net, and give some hints at applications to psychology and psychotherapy (“principle of indirect steering”). Finally, I discuss relations between Synergetics and Complexity Science.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Basar, E., Flohr, H., Haken, H., Mandell, A.J.: Synergetics of the Brain. Springer Verlag, Berlin (1983)

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Haken, H., Graham, R.: Synergetik, die Lehre vom Zusammenwirken. Umschau 6, 191–195 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Maiman, T.H.: Stimulated optical radiation in ruby. Nature 187, 493–494 (1960)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Haken, H.: A Nonlinear Theory of Laser Noise and Coherence. 1. Zeitschrift für Physik 181, 96–124 (1964)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bénard, H.: Rev. Gen. Sci. Pures Appl. 11 1261, 1309 (1900)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bodenschatz, E., Cannell, D.S., de Bruyn, J.R., Ecke, R., Hu, Y.-C., Lerman, K., Ahlers, G.: Experiments on three systems with non-variational aspects. Physica D 61, 77–93 (1992)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Bestehorn, M., Fantz, M., Friedrich, R., Haken, H.: Hexagonal and spiral patterns of thermal convection. Phys. Lett. A 174, 48–52 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Weidlich, W.: The statistical description of polarization phenomena in society. Brit. J. Math. Stat. 24, 251–266 (1951)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  9. Eigen, M.: The self-organization of matter and the evolution of biological macromolecules. Naturwissenschaften 58, 465–523 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Eigen, M., Schuster, P.: The Hypercycle: A Principle of Natural Self-Organization. Springer, New York (1979)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Weidlich, W.: Sociodynamics: A Systematic Approach to Mathematical Modelling in the Social Sciences. Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam (2000)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. Haken, H. (ed.): Synergetics. Cooperative Phenomena in Multi-Component Systems. B.G. Teubner, Stuttgart (1973)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. Haken, H.: Synergetics. An Introduction. Nonequilibrium Phase Transitions and Self-Organization in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Springer, Berlin (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Haken, H. (ed.): Springer Series in Synergetics, founded in 1977, now part of the Springer Complexity Program. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  15. Haken, H.: Advanced Synergetics. Instability Hierarchies of Self-Organizing Systems and Devices. Springer, Berlin (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Haken, H.: Synergetics. Introduction and Advanced Topics. Springer, Berlin (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Von Bertalanffi, L.: The theory of open systems in physics and biology. Science 111, 23–29 (1950)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Von Bertalanffi, L.: Biophysik des Fließgleichgewichts. Vieweg, Braunschweig (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pliss, V.A.: A reduction principle in the theory of stability of motion. IZV. Akad. Nauk SSSR., Mat. Ser. 28, 1297 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kelley, A.: In: Abraham, R., Robbin, J. (eds.) Transversal Mappings and Flows. Benjamin, New York (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Robinson, J.C.: Finite-dimensional behavior in dissipative partial differential equations. Chaos 5, 330–345 (1985)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  22. Landau, L.D., Lifshitz, I.M.: Course of Theoretical Physics, vol. 5. Statistical Physics. Pergamon-Press, London (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kelso, J.A.S.: On the oscillatory basis of movements. Bulletin of Psychonomic Society 18, 63 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Haken, H., Kelso, J.A.S., Bunz, H.: A Theoretical model of phase transitions in human movements. Biol. Cybernetics 51, 347–356 (1985)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  25. Kelso, J.A.S., Scholz, J.P., Schöner, G.: Non-equilibrium phase transitions in coordinated biological motion: Critical fluctuations. Physics Letters A 118, 279–284 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Kelso, J.A.S.: Dynamic patterns: The self-organization of brain and behavior. MIT Press, Boston (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Haken, H.: Principles of Brain Functioning. A Synergetic approach to Brain Activity, Behavior and Cognition. Springer, Berlin (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kelso, S. (ed.), Monograph Series: Understanding Complex Systems, as part of the Springer Complexity Program. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  29. Köhler, W.: Die physischen Gestalten in Ruhe und im stationären Zustand. Vieweg, Braunschweig (1920)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Ditzinger, T., Haken, H.: Oscillations in the perception of ambiguous patterns. Biol. Cybern. 61, 279–287 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Borsellino, A., deMarco, A., Allazetta, A., Rinesi, S., Bartollini, B.: Reversal time distribution in the perception of visual ambiguous stimuli. Kybernetik 10, 139–144 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Borsellino, A., Carlini, R., Riani, M., Tuccio, M.T., deMarco, A., Penengo, P., Trabucco, A.: Effects of visual angle on perspective reversal for ambiguous patterns. Perception 11, 263–273 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Haken, H.: Synergetic computers and cognition. Springer, Berlin (1991)

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  34. Fuchs, A., Haken, H.: Pattern recognition and associative memory as dynamical process in a synergetic system I+II, Erratum. Biol. Cybern. 60, 17–22, 107–109, 476 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hopfield, J.J.: Neural networks andphysical systems with emergent collective computational abilities. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 79, 2554–2558 (1982)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  36. Carpenter, C., Grossberg, S.: The art of adaptive pattern recognition by a self-organizing neural network. Computer, 77–87, March 1980

    Google Scholar 

  37. Haken, H.: Brain Dynamics. An Introduction to Models and Simulations. Springer, Berlin (2002/2007)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Haken, H.: Synergetic computers for pattern recognition and associative memory. In: Haken, H. (ed.) Computational Systems, Natural and Artificial, pp. 2–22. Springer, Berlin (1987)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  39. Gray, C.M., Singer, W.: Stimulus specific neuronal oscillations in orientation columns of cat visual cortex. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 1698–1702 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Eckhorn, R., Bauer, R., Jordan, W., Brosch, M., Kruse, W., Munk, M., Reitblöck, H.J.: Coherent oscillations: a mechanism of feature linking in the visual cortex? Multiple electrode and correlation analyses in the cat. Biol. Cybern. 60, 121–130 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P.: Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th edn., Garland Science, Part of Taylor and Francis Group LLC (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Haken, H., Levi, P.: Synergetic agents. From multi-robot systems to molecular robotics. Wiley, Weinheim (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Haken, H., Schiepek, G.: Synergetik in der Psychologie. Hogrefe, Göttingen (2006)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Synergetics, Institut Für Theoretische Physik 1, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70550, Stuttgart, Germany

    Hermann Haken

Authors
  1. Hermann Haken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hermann Haken .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Theoret. Physik I, Universität Stuttgart Institut für Theoret. Physik I, Stuttgart, Germany

    Günter Wunner

  2. Fachbereich Physik, Forschungszentrum OPTIMAS, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Axel Pelster

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Haken, H. (2016). The Brain as a Synergetic and Physical System. In: Wunner, G., Pelster, A. (eds) Selforganization in Complex Systems: The Past, Present, and Future of Synergetics. Understanding Complex Systems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27635-9_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27635-9_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27633-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27635-9

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation