Chapter 16 - Symmetry in Primate Higher Brain Function

Abstract

This chapter presents experiments to directly test the trion model at the neuronal level. The chapter begins with some history leading up to Mark Bodner's exciting results. It is noted that an important key to distinguish between the various neural models of cortical function is to simultaneously observe the firing of a number of neurons in the cortex. Brain theory models of cortical function contrast widely in their basic assumptions concerning the code of information processing. The results of Kruger's data analysis give evidence for a spatial-temporal code as opposed to a pure spatial code. This means the code cannot be separated into a spatial part times a temporal part. The spatial and temporal components of the code are inexorably intertwined. Thus this result helps understand the role of music in increasing one's ability to think and reason. Furthermore, the cortical memory results showing symmetric families are of great significance. They not only support the trion model at the neuronal level, but also open up the possibility of actually decoding the internal cortical language for higher brain function.