Theoretical approaches to holistic biological features: Pattern formation, neural networks and the brain-mind relation.
J Biosci
;
2002 Jun; 27(3): 195-205
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-110639
ABSTRACT
The topic of this article is the relation between bottom-up and top-down, reductionist and holistic approaches to the solution of basic biological problems. While there is no doubt that the laws of physics apply to all events in space and time, including the domains of life, understanding biology depends not only on elucidating the role of the molecules involved, but, to an increasing extent, on systems theoretical approaches in diverse fields of the life sciences. Examples discussed in this article are the generation of spatial patterns in development by the interplay of autocatalysis and lateral inhibition; the evolution of integrating capabilities of the human brain, such as cognition-based empathy; and both neurobiological and epistemological aspects of scientific theories of consciousness and the mind.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Science
/
Structure-Activity Relationship
/
Brain
/
Humans
/
Gene Expression Regulation
/
Cognition
/
Consciousness
/
Body Patterning
/
Mental Processes
/
Models, Biological
Language:
English
Journal:
J Biosci
Year:
2002
Type:
Article
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