Abstract
To understand the function of the neocortex, which is a hierarchical distributed network, it is useful giving meaning to the signals transmitted between these areas from the computational viewpoint. The overall anatomical structure or organs related to this network, including the neocortex, thalamus, and basal ganglia, has been roughly revealed, and much physiological knowledge, though often fragmentary, is being accumulated. The computational theories involving the neocortex have also been developed considerably. By introducing the assumption “The signals transmitted by interarea axonal projections of pyramidal cells in the neocortex carry different meanings for each cell type, common to all areas,” derived from its nature as a distributed network in the neocortex, allows us to specify the computational meanings of interarea signals. In this paper, first, the types of signals exchanged between neocortical areas are investigated, taking into account biological constraints, and employing theories such as predictive coding, reinforcement learning, representation emulation theory, and BDI logic as theoretical starting points, two types of feedforward signals (observation and deviation) and three types of feedback signals (prediction, plan, and intention) are identified. Next, based on the anatomical knowledge of the neocortex and thalamus, the pathways connecting the areas are organized and summarized as three corticocortical pathways and two thalamocortical pathways. Using this summation as preparation, this paper proposes a hypothesis that gives meaning to each type of signals transmitted in the different pathways in the neocortex, from the viewpoint of their functions. This hypothesis reckons that the feedforward corticocortical pathway transmits observation signals, the feedback corticocortical pathway transmits prediction signals, and the corticothalamic pathway mediated by core relay cells transmits deviation signals. The thalamocortical pathway, which is mediated by matrix relay cells, would be responsible for transmitting the signals that activate a part of prediction signals as intentions, due to the reason that the nature of the other available feedback pathways are not sufficient for conveying plans and intentions as signals. The corticocortical pathway, which is projected from various IT cells to the first layer, would be responsible for transmitting signals that activate a part of prediction signals as plans.
Highlights
Understanding the neocortex, which is responsible for cognition and behavior generation in the brain, is of major interest in neuroscience
Taking into account biological constraints, we will show that existing theories, such as predictive coding, reinforcement learning, representation emulation theory, and BDI logic, can support this classification of signals
There are five types of signals exchanged among neocortical areas: observation signals, prediction signals, plan signals, intention signals, and deviation signals
Summary
Understanding the neocortex, which is responsible for cognition and behavior generation in the brain, is of major interest in neuroscience. Canonical interarea protocol assumption: The signals transmitted by interarea axonal projections of pyramidal cells in the neocortex carry different meanings for each cell type, common to all areas. This assumption states that neuron types specify information representations of protocols for interarea communication. The signals carried by the interarea axonal projections of pyramidal neurons can carry different meanings for each cell type Such meanings can be shared across all neocortical areas. The canonical interarea protocol assumption is plausible This hypothesis is consistent with the findings of axonal bifurcation (Kennedy and Bullier, 1985; Markov and Kennedy, 2013; Markov et al, 2013), which suggests that groups of FF and FB neurons form a different flow of information.
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