Biology – Quantitative Biology – Neurons and Cognition
Scientific paper
2011-12-22
Network: Computation in Neural Systems, 2011, Vol. 22, No. 1-4 : Pages 143-147
Biology
Quantitative Biology
Neurons and Cognition
Scientific paper
10.3109/0954898X.2011.638968
Neural networks show a progressive increase in complexity during the time course of evolution. From diffuse nerve nets in Cnidaria to modular, hierarchical systems in macaque and humans, there is a gradual shift from simple processes involving a limited amount of tasks and modalities to complex functional and behavioral processing integrating different kinds of information from highly specialized tissue. However, studies in a range of species suggest that fundamental similarities, in spatial and topological features as well as in developmental mechanisms for network formation, are retained across evolution. 'Small-world' topology and highly connected regions (hubs) are prevalent across the evolutionary scale, ensuring efficient processing and resilience to internal (e.g. lesions) and external (e.g. environment) changes. Furthermore, in most species, even the establishment of hubs, long-range connections linking distant components, and a modular organization, relies on similar mechanisms. In conclusion, evolutionary divergence leads to greater complexity while following essential developmental constraints.
Kaiser Marcus
Varier Sreedevi
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