Chapter 5 - Misrepresentation of nonmonotonic nonlinear dynamics

Abstract

Current theories of pathophysiology and physiology are based on one-dimensional push–pull dynamics. The mechanisms of pathophysiology are the relative excess or deficiency in some property such as the relative activity of neurons in the globus pallidus interna, neuronal synchronization, or amount of oscillatory activities at relatively low frequencies. Neuronal interactions within the basal ganglia are held additive in the manner of the Principle of Superposition, thus linear or approximately linear. Yet, the actual neuronal dynamics are not linear and do not comport with the Principle of Superposition at the fundamental level. The actual dynamics are highly nonlinear complex and always have been so. How is it that the nonlinearity of the phenomenon has been missed for hundreds of years? There are several sources for the misrepresentation. This includes instrumental, experimental designs, statistical designs, and the process of drawing inferences from observations. Each of these sources of misrepresentation is examined critically.