Physics and Mathematics of the Nervous System : Proceedings of a Summer School Organized by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, and the Institute for Information Sciences, University of Tübingen, Held at Trieste, August 21–31, 1973

This volume is the record and product of the Summer School on the Physics and Mathematics of the Nervous System, held at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste from August 21-31, 1973, and jointly organized by the Institute for Information Sciences, University of Tlibingen and by the Centre. The school served to bring biologists, physicists and mathemati­ cians together to exchange ideas about the nervous system and brain, and also to introduce young scientists to the field. The program, attended by more than a hundred scientists, was interdisciplinary both in character and participation. The primary support for the school was provided by the Volkswagen Foundation of West Germany. We are particularly indebted to Drs. G. Gambke, M. -L Zarnitz, and H. Penschuck of the Foundation for their in­ terest in and help with the project. The school also received major support from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste and its sponsoring agencies, including the use of its excellent facili­ ties. We are deeply indebted to Professor A. Salam for his kind co­ operation and also to Professor P. Budini, Dr. A. M. Hamende, and to the many members of the Centre staff whose hospitality and efficiency con­ tributed so much to the success of the school. We are pleased to acknow­ ledge the generous ~id and cooperation of the University of Tlibingen and would like to thank its President, A. Front Matter....Pages N1-XI Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Catastrophe Geometry in Physics and Biology....Pages 2-30 Some Limitations Affecting Physics and Mathematics as Applied to Biology and Especially to the Nervous System....Pages 31-39 Front Matter....Pages 41-41 An Integral Physico-Chemical Model for Bioexcitability....Pages 42-81 Molecular Information Processing in the Central Nervous System....Pages 82-107 Molecular Information Processing in the Central Nervous System....Pages 108-127 Discrete and Continuous Processes in Computers and Brains....Pages 128-148 Front Matter....Pages 149-149 Postsynaptic Cell Characteristics Determining Membrane Potential Changes....Pages 150-170 Limitations to Single-Photon Sensitivity in Vision....Pages 171-197 Visual Sensitivity....Pages 198-204 Detection of Form and Pattern by Retinal Neurones....Pages 205-210 Auditory Processing in the Nervous System....Pages 211-227 Front Matter....Pages 229-229 Neural Networks and the Brain....Pages 230-253 Cerebellar Morphology and Physiology: Introductory Remarks....Pages 254-268 Can Neurons Develop Responses to Objects?....Pages 269-289 On the Representation of Objects and Their Relations in the Brain....Pages 290-298 Report on the Discussion Group on “Living Neural Nets”....Pages 299-301 Front Matter....Pages 303-303 Complexity of Automata, Brains, and Behavior....Pages 304-331 Model Neuron Based on the Josephson Effect....Pages 332-341 Adequate Locomotion Strategies for an Abstract Organism in an Abstract Environment — A Relational Approach to Brain Function....Pages 342-369 The Artificial Intelligence/Psychology Approach to the Study of the Brain and Nervous System....Pages 370-375 Front Matter....Pages 377-377 Cellular Automata....Pages 378-386 On Turing Machines with Modifications....Pages 387-398 Chemical Automata in Homogeneous and Reaction-Diffusion Kinetics....Pages 399-418 Molecular Automata....Pages 419-430 Structural and Dynamical Redundancy....Pages 431-441 Modifiable Automata with Tolerance A Model of Learning....Pages 442-455 Front Matter....Pages 457-457 Redundancy and Perception....Pages 458-468 Sensory Coding and Economy of Nerve Impulses....Pages 469-483 An Algorithmic Approach to Information Theory....Pages 484-501 Information Theory and Learning in Biology Summary of the Workgroup Sessions....Pages 502-509 Front Matter....Pages 511-511 Mathematical Models and Bifurcation Theory in Biology....Pages 512-519 Biochemical Kinetics....Pages 520-527 Geometrical Aspects of the Pseudo Steady State Hypothesis in Enzyme Reactions....Pages 528-545 A Synthetic Approach to Exotic Kinetics (With Examples)....Pages 546-582 Concluding Remarks....Pages 583-584 This volume is the record and product of the Summer School on the Physics and Mathematics of the Nervous System, held at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste from August 21-31, 1973, and jointly organized by the Institute for Information Sciences, University of Tlibingen and by the Centre. The school served to bring biologists, physicists and mathematiƯ cians together to exchange ideas about the nervous system and brain, and also to introduce young scientists to the field. The program, attended by more than a hundred scientists, was interdisciplinary both in character and participation. The primary support for the school was provided by the Volkswagen Foundation of West Germany. We are particularly indebted to Drs. G. Gambke, M.-L Zarnitz, and H. Penschuck of the Foundation for their inƯ terest in and help with the project. The school also received major support from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste and its sponsoring agencies, including the use of its excellent faciliƯ ties. We are deeply indebted to Professor A. Salam for his kind coƯ operation and also to Professor P. Budini, Dr. A.M. Hamende, and to the many members of the Centre staff whose hospitality and efficiency conƯ tributed so much to the success of the school. We are pleased to acknowƯ ledge the generous ~id and cooperation of the University of Tlibingen and would like to thank its President, A