Context rules: identifying the determinants of brain functioning, behavior and their interplay

Published: April 17, 2023

Notwithstanding the huge progress in molecular and cellular neuroscience, our ability to understand brain develop effective treatments promoting mental health is still limited. This can be partially ascribed reductionist, deterministic mechanistic approaches neuroscience that struggle with complexity of central nervous system. Here, I introduce Context theory constrained systems proposing a novel role contextual factors genetic, neural substrates determining functioning behavior. entails key conceptual implications. First, context main driver behavior states. Second, substrates, from genes areas, have no direct causal link complex behavioral responses as they combined multiple ways produce same response different impinge on substrates. Third, biological play distinct roles behavior: drives behavior, constrain repertoire implemented. Fourth, since interface between system environment, it privileged level control orchestration functioning. Such implications are illustrated through Kitchen metaphor brain. theoretical framework calls for revision concepts psychiatry, including causality, specificity individuality. Moreover, at clinical level, proposes inducing changes interventions having highest impact reorganize human mind achieve long-lasting improvement health.

Language: Английский

The Brain is not Mental! Coupling Neuronal and Immune Cellular Processing in Human Organisms

Published: April 18, 2023

Significant efforts have been made in the past decades to understand how mental and cognitive processes are underpinned by neural mechanisms brain. This paper argues that a promising way forward understanding nature of human cognition is zoom out from prevailing picture focusing on its basis. It considers instead neurons work tandem with other type cells (e.g. immune) subserve biological self-organisation adaptive behaviour organism as whole. We focus specifically immune cellular processing key actor complementing neuronal achieving successful adaptation body an ever-changing environment. overview theoretical empirical evidence ‘basal cognition’ challenging idea only brain exclusive ability ‘learn’ or ‘cognize’. The rather than neural, underscores flexible responses fluctuations environment require carefully crafted orchestration multiple bodily systems at organisational levels organism. Hence can be seen multiscale web dynamic information distributed across vast array complex neuronal, immune, others) network systems, operating entire body, not just Ultimately, this builds up towards radical claim should confined one system alone, namely brain, no matter sophisticated latter notoriously is.

Language: Английский