Skip to main content
added 38 characters in body
Source Link
AliceD
  • 20.8k
  • 8
  • 51
  • 142

Short answer
Increasing neural complexity only increases processing times when neurons are serially linked together.

Background
Neuronal conductance of action potentials takes time, as neuronal signals travel at a speed of 0.5 to 150 m/s through the axon (Purves et al., 2001). Furthermore, synaptic transmission between neurons takes time (in the order of. A chemical synaptic transmission takes approximately 0.5 ms (Katz & Miledi, 1965). As a consequence, stringing neurons together increases processing time.

For example, if we look at the pain response, the reflex arc is very short, covering as little as two synapses (Fig. 1). The moment you touch a hot pan, you pretty much instantly draw away your hand. This process precedes even before you become consciously aware of the fact you touched something painful. This is because conscious awareness happens in the brain, involving a longer distance to be covered from your finger, and because it involves many more synapses including the brainstem, lower cortical areas and higher cortical areas (Fig. 2).

Processing time does not necessarily have to increase when processing complexity is increased, as long as the processing takes place in parallel. For example, multiple visual pathways in the human brain run in parallel, for example the 'what' and 'where' processing in the brain in the ventral and dorsal streams (Van Polanen & Davare, 2016), as depicted in Fig. 3.

reflex arc
Fig. 1. Pain reflex arc. source: Owlcation

painpathway
Fig. 2. Conscious pain pathway. source: neuwritewest

ventral dorsal streams
Fig. 3. Parallel processing of 'what' and 'where' information in the visual system. source: Brainscape

References
- Katz & Miledi, J Physiol (1965); 181(3): 656–70
- Purves et al. (eds), Neuroscience, 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates
- Van Polanen & Davare, Neuropsychologia (2015); 79: 186–91

Short answer
Increasing neural complexity only increases processing times when neurons are serially linked together.

Background
Neuronal conductance of action potentials takes time, as neuronal signals travel at a speed of 0.5 to 150 m/s through the axon (Purves et al., 2001). Furthermore, synaptic transmission between neurons takes time (in the order of 0.5 ms (Katz & Miledi, 1965) As a consequence, stringing neurons together increases processing time.

For example, if we look at the pain response, the reflex arc is very short, covering as little as two synapses (Fig. 1). The moment you touch a hot pan, you pretty much instantly draw away your hand. This process precedes even before you become consciously aware of the fact you touched something painful. This is because conscious awareness happens in the brain, involving a longer distance to be covered from your finger, and because it involves many more synapses including the brainstem, lower cortical areas and higher cortical areas (Fig. 2).

Processing time does not necessarily have to increase when processing complexity is increased, as long as the processing takes place in parallel. For example, multiple visual pathways in the human brain run in parallel, for example the 'what' and 'where' processing in the brain in the ventral and dorsal streams (Van Polanen & Davare, 2016), as depicted in Fig. 3.

reflex arc
Fig. 1. Pain reflex arc. source: Owlcation

painpathway
Fig. 2. Conscious pain pathway. source: neuwritewest

ventral dorsal streams
Fig. 3. Parallel processing of 'what' and 'where' information in the visual system. source: Brainscape

References
- Katz & Miledi, J Physiol (1965); 181(3): 656–70
- Purves et al. (eds), Neuroscience, 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates
- Van Polanen & Davare, Neuropsychologia (2015); 79: 186–91

Short answer
Increasing neural complexity only increases processing times when neurons are serially linked together.

Background
Neuronal conductance of action potentials takes time, as neuronal signals travel at a speed of 0.5 to 150 m/s through the axon (Purves et al., 2001). Furthermore, synaptic transmission between neurons takes time. A chemical synaptic transmission takes approximately 0.5 ms (Katz & Miledi, 1965). As a consequence, stringing neurons together increases processing time.

For example, if we look at the pain response, the reflex arc is very short, covering as little as two synapses (Fig. 1). The moment you touch a hot pan, you pretty much instantly draw away your hand. This process precedes even before you become consciously aware of the fact you touched something painful. This is because conscious awareness happens in the brain, involving a longer distance to be covered from your finger, and because it involves many more synapses including the brainstem, lower cortical areas and higher cortical areas (Fig. 2).

Processing time does not necessarily have to increase when processing complexity is increased, as long as the processing takes place in parallel. For example, multiple visual pathways in the human brain run in parallel, for example the 'what' and 'where' processing in the brain in the ventral and dorsal streams (Van Polanen & Davare, 2016), as depicted in Fig. 3.

reflex arc
Fig. 1. Pain reflex arc. source: Owlcation

painpathway
Fig. 2. Conscious pain pathway. source: neuwritewest

ventral dorsal streams
Fig. 3. Parallel processing of 'what' and 'where' information in the visual system. source: Brainscape

References
- Katz & Miledi, J Physiol (1965); 181(3): 656–70
- Purves et al. (eds), Neuroscience, 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates
- Van Polanen & Davare, Neuropsychologia (2015); 79: 186–91

added 324 characters in body
Source Link
AliceD
  • 20.8k
  • 8
  • 51
  • 142

Short answer
Increasing neural complexity only increases processing times when neurons are serially linked together.

Background
Neuronal conductance of action potentials takes time, as neuronal signals travel at a speed of 0.5 to 150 m/s through the axon (Purves et al., 2001). Furthermore, synaptic transmission between neurons takes time (in the order of 0.5 ms (Katz & Miledi, 1965) As a consequence, stringing neurons together increases processing time.

For example, if we look at the pain response, the reflex arc is very short, covering as little as two synapses (Fig. 1). The moment you touch a hot pan, you pretty much instantly draw away your hand. This process precedes even before you become consciously aware of the fact you touched something painful. This is because conscious awareness happens in the brain, involving a longer distance to be covered from your finger, and because it involves many more synapses including the brainstem, lower cortical areas and higher cortical areas (Fig. 2).

Processing time does not necessarily have to increase when processing complexity is increased, as long as the processing takes place in parallel. For example, multiple visual pathways in the human brain run in parallel, for example the 'what' and 'where' processing in the brain (ventralin the ventral and dorsal streams) (Van Polanen & Davare, 2016), as depicted in Fig. 3.

reflex arc
Fig. 1. Pain reflex arc. source: Owlcation

painpathwaypainpathway
Fig. 2. Conscious pain pathway. source: neuwritewest

ventral dorsal streams
Fig. 3. Parallel processing of 'what' and 'where' information in the visual system. source: Brainscape

References
- Katz & Miledi, J Physiol (1965); 181(3): 656–70
- Purves et al. (eds), Neuroscience, 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates
- Van Polanen & Davare, Neuropsychologia (2015); 79: 186–91

Short answer
Increasing neural complexity only increases processing times when neurons are serially linked together.

Background
Neuronal conductance of action potentials takes time, as neuronal signals travel at a speed of 0.5 to 150 m/s through the axon (Purves et al., 2001). Furthermore, synaptic transmission between neurons takes time (in the order of 0.5 ms (Katz & Miledi, 1965) As a consequence, stringing neurons together increases processing time.

For example, if we look at the pain response, the reflex arc is very short, covering as little as two synapses (Fig. 1). The moment you touch a hot pan, you pretty much instantly draw away your hand. This process precedes even before you become consciously aware of the fact you touched something painful. This is because conscious awareness happens in the brain, involving a longer distance to be covered from your finger, and because it involves many more synapses including the brainstem, lower cortical areas and higher cortical areas (Fig. 2).

Processing time does not necessarily have to increase when processing complexity is increased, as long as the processing takes place in parallel. For example, multiple visual pathways in the human brain run in parallel, for example the 'what' and 'where' processing in the brain (ventral and dorsal streams) (Van Polanen & Davare, 2016).

reflex arc
Fig. 1. Pain reflex. source: Owlcation

painpathway
Fig. 2. Conscious pain pathway. source: neuwritewest

References
- Katz & Miledi, J Physiol (1965); 181(3): 656–70
- Purves et al. (eds), Neuroscience, 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates
- Van Polanen & Davare, Neuropsychologia (2015); 79: 186–91

Short answer
Increasing neural complexity only increases processing times when neurons are serially linked together.

Background
Neuronal conductance of action potentials takes time, as neuronal signals travel at a speed of 0.5 to 150 m/s through the axon (Purves et al., 2001). Furthermore, synaptic transmission between neurons takes time (in the order of 0.5 ms (Katz & Miledi, 1965) As a consequence, stringing neurons together increases processing time.

For example, if we look at the pain response, the reflex arc is very short, covering as little as two synapses (Fig. 1). The moment you touch a hot pan, you pretty much instantly draw away your hand. This process precedes even before you become consciously aware of the fact you touched something painful. This is because conscious awareness happens in the brain, involving a longer distance to be covered from your finger, and because it involves many more synapses including the brainstem, lower cortical areas and higher cortical areas (Fig. 2).

Processing time does not necessarily have to increase when processing complexity is increased, as long as the processing takes place in parallel. For example, multiple visual pathways in the human brain run in parallel, for example the 'what' and 'where' processing in the brain in the ventral and dorsal streams (Van Polanen & Davare, 2016), as depicted in Fig. 3.

reflex arc
Fig. 1. Pain reflex arc. source: Owlcation

painpathway
Fig. 2. Conscious pain pathway. source: neuwritewest

ventral dorsal streams
Fig. 3. Parallel processing of 'what' and 'where' information in the visual system. source: Brainscape

References
- Katz & Miledi, J Physiol (1965); 181(3): 656–70
- Purves et al. (eds), Neuroscience, 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates
- Van Polanen & Davare, Neuropsychologia (2015); 79: 186–91

added 438 characters in body
Source Link
AliceD
  • 20.8k
  • 8
  • 51
  • 142

Short answer
ComplexityIncreasing neural complexity only increases delaysprocessing times when neurons are serially linked together.

Background
Neuronal conductance of action potentials takes time, as neuronal signals travel at a speed of 0.5 to 150 m/s through the axon (Purves et al., 2001). Furthermore, synaptic transmission between neurons takes time (in the order of 0.5 ms (Katz & Miledi, 1965) As a consequence, stringing neurons together increases processing time.

For example, if we look at the pain response, the reflex arc is very short, covering as little as two synapses (Fig. 1). The moment you touch a hot pan, you pretty much instantly draw away your hand. This process precedes even before you become consciously aware of the fact you touched something painful. This is because conscious awareness happens in the brain, involving a longer distance to be covered from your finger, and because it involves many more synapses including the brainstem, lower cortical areas and higher cortical areas (Fig. 2).

Processing time does not necessarily have to increase when processing complexity is increased, as long as the processing takes place in parallel. For example, multiple visual pathways in the human brain run in parallel, for example the 'what' and 'where' processing in the brain (ventral and dorsal streams) (Van Polanen & Davare, 2016).

reflex arc
Fig. 1. Pain reflex. source: Owlcation

painpathway
Fig. 2. Conscious pain pathway. source: neuwritewest

References
- Katz & Miledi, J Physiol (1965); 181(3): 656–70
- Purves et al. (eds), Neuroscience, 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates. Increased Conduction Velocity as a Result of Myelination
- Van Polanen & Davare, Neuropsychologia (2015); 79: 186–91

Short answer
Complexity only increases delays when neurons are serially linked together.

Background
Neuronal conductance of action potentials takes time, as neuronal signals travel at a speed of 0.5 to 150 m/s through the axon (Purves et al., 2001). Furthermore, synaptic transmission between neurons takes time (in the order of 0.5 ms (Katz & Miledi, 1965) As a consequence, stringing neurons together increases processing time.

For example, if we look at the pain response, the reflex arc is very short, covering as little as two synapses (Fig. 1). The moment you touch a hot pan, you pretty much instantly draw away your hand. This process precedes even before you become consciously aware of the fact you touched something painful. This is because conscious awareness happens in the brain, involving a longer distance to be covered from your finger, and because it involves many more synapses including the brainstem, lower cortical areas and higher cortical areas (Fig. 2).

reflex arc
Fig. 1. Pain reflex. source: Owlcation

painpathway
Fig. 2. Conscious pain pathway. source: neuwritewest

References
- Katz & Miledi, J Physiol (1965); 181(3): 656–70
- Purves et al. (eds), Neuroscience, 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates. Increased Conduction Velocity as a Result of Myelination

Short answer
Increasing neural complexity only increases processing times when neurons are serially linked together.

Background
Neuronal conductance of action potentials takes time, as neuronal signals travel at a speed of 0.5 to 150 m/s through the axon (Purves et al., 2001). Furthermore, synaptic transmission between neurons takes time (in the order of 0.5 ms (Katz & Miledi, 1965) As a consequence, stringing neurons together increases processing time.

For example, if we look at the pain response, the reflex arc is very short, covering as little as two synapses (Fig. 1). The moment you touch a hot pan, you pretty much instantly draw away your hand. This process precedes even before you become consciously aware of the fact you touched something painful. This is because conscious awareness happens in the brain, involving a longer distance to be covered from your finger, and because it involves many more synapses including the brainstem, lower cortical areas and higher cortical areas (Fig. 2).

Processing time does not necessarily have to increase when processing complexity is increased, as long as the processing takes place in parallel. For example, multiple visual pathways in the human brain run in parallel, for example the 'what' and 'where' processing in the brain (ventral and dorsal streams) (Van Polanen & Davare, 2016).

reflex arc
Fig. 1. Pain reflex. source: Owlcation

painpathway
Fig. 2. Conscious pain pathway. source: neuwritewest

References
- Katz & Miledi, J Physiol (1965); 181(3): 656–70
- Purves et al. (eds), Neuroscience, 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates
- Van Polanen & Davare, Neuropsychologia (2015); 79: 186–91

Source Link
AliceD
  • 20.8k
  • 8
  • 51
  • 142
Loading