Signaling in the Brain: In Search of Functional Units
Signaling in the Brain: In Search of Functional Units
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大脑中的信号传导：寻找功能单元
DOI：
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发表时间：
2014
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
R. Cao
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
R. Cao
大脑的功能单位是什么？如果大脑的功能是处理携带信息的信号，那么功能单元就是这些信号的发送者和接受者。神经元一直是默认的候选者，动作电位作为信号。但也有其他的选择：突触更清晰地符合动作电位图像，神经胶质活动（例如星形胶质细胞）也可能被表征为信号。是突触还是非神经元细胞更适合扮演功能单位的角色？如果我们超越神经元理论，信息信号还会是大脑功能的最佳模型吗？
What are the functional units of the brain? If the function of the brain is to process information-carrying signals, then the functional units will be the senders and receivers of those signals. Neurons have been the default candidate, with action potentials as the signals. But there are alternatives: synapses fit the action potential picture more cleanly, and glial activities (e.g., in astrocytes) might also be characterized as signaling. Are synapses or nonneuronal cells better candidates to play the role of functional units? Will informational signaling still be the best model for brain function if we move beyond the neuron doctrine?