An Integrative Account of Neural Network Interaction: Neuro-Messenger Theory

Abstract

Neural interaction is realized by information exchange. It seemed that the information amount does not keep constant and may be reduced during the travel between neural nodes. In addition, recent research of neural coding has suggested that neural information could be represented by parsimonious spiking pattern, named sparse coding. Based on the above observation, neuro-messenger theory (NMT) is proposed to explicate the communicative process between the source and the target neural nodes. Neuro-messenger is a sparse code which does not have to carry every detail of the dynamics in source node. Other formats of neural coding (e.g., temporal and rate coding) could be the precursors of neuro-messengers, and the repeated spatiotemporal patterns buried in the ongoing brain activities may be the circulated neuro-messengers from diverse origins. Referred to chaos/complexity theory, information can be recovered at target node where neuro-messenger serves as a facilitator to locate the trajectory at proper attractor, and hence the associated psychological entity. In contrast to conventional concepts of encoding and decoding, the processes of encoding in source node, issuing neuro-messengers, and recovering information at target node are summarized as “three-facet coding scheme”. The design of neuro-messenger enables the brain to utilize energy in an efficient and economical way. NMT may have substantial implication in several major psychiatric disorders. Some psychiatric conditions could be mediated by abnormal neuro-messengers that coerce the regional neuro-dynamics to delve into maladaptive attractors and hence the characteristic symptoms.