The Single-Neuron Theory

Abstract

Information presented in the previous chapters is drawn on to construct a single-neuron theory of vr-conscious experience. Evidence is provided that the distal dendritic branches of basal dendrites in left VL-PFC L5 pyramidal neurons individually receive convergent input from L2/3 pyramidal neurons that contains all components of vr-conscious experience, and that the complexity of synaptic activation patterns produced in the dendrites by this input matches that of vr-conscious experience. I then describe an output mechanism whereby dendrite-to-network maps provide a means by which vr-conscious neurons can produce macroscopically observed behavior. I conclude with a consideration of the grandmother cell conundrum and its potential resolution, and of persistence memory, in which residual synaptic activity provides a context for subsequently induced synaptic activation patterns.