Narrow Results

In this chapter I point at a broad analogy between observed behaviour of neuronal firing patterns and structures appearing in complex ecological systems, notably temperate pristine forests. Although such a connection seems at first remote, I will argue that the mosaic-cycle (patch dynamics) concept seems particularly apt at describing universal features common to a wide variety of self organizing hierarchical structures. A simple approach where neurons are represented by connected probabilistic Turing machines will be introduced and related to the mosaic-cycle picture. At a more general level, I will try to sum up some of the generic properties an information processing machine like the brain must possess, including error correcting coding, optimal control, and universal computability. Finally, simple mathematical arguments are given to explain why perception and learning must be active, dialogue like processes.