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Towards a Neuronal Gauge Theory

Author

Listed:
  • Biswa Sengupta
  • Arturo Tozzi
  • Gerald K Cooray
  • Pamela K Douglas
  • Karl J Friston

Abstract

Given the amount of knowledge and data accruing in the neurosciences, is it time to formulate a general principle for neuronal dynamics that holds at evolutionary, developmental, and perceptual timescales? In this paper, we propose that the brain (and other self-organised biological systems) can be characterised via the mathematical apparatus of a gauge theory. The picture that emerges from this approach suggests that any biological system (from a neuron to an organism) can be cast as resolving uncertainty about its external milieu, either by changing its internal states or its relationship to the environment. Using formal arguments, we show that a gauge theory for neuronal dynamics—based on approximate Bayesian inference—has the potential to shed new light on phenomena that have thus far eluded a formal description, such as attention and the link between action and perception.This Essay presents a formalism that not only provides a quantitative framework for modelling neural activity but also shows that neuronal dynamics across scales are described by the same principle.

Suggested Citation

  • Biswa Sengupta & Arturo Tozzi & Gerald K Cooray & Pamela K Douglas & Karl J Friston, 2016. "Towards a Neuronal Gauge Theory," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pbio00:1002400
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002400
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karl Friston, 2008. "Hierarchical Models in the Brain," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(11), pages 1-24, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jean-Pierre Magnot, 2018. "On Mathematical Structures On Pairwise Comparisons Matrices With Coefficients In A Group Arising From Quantum Gravity," Working Papers hal-01835958, HAL.
    2. Jean-Pierre Magnot, 2019. "On Mathematical Structures On Pairwise Comparisons Matrices With Coefficients In A Group Arising From Quantum Gravity," Post-Print hal-01835958, HAL.

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