Lars Taxén Linköping University Activity Modalities – A Unitary Conceptualization of Brain and Environment Lars Taxén Linköping University

My background Methods, processes, IT, Information systems project management 34 yrs 15 yrs Researching the coordination of complex development tasks, PhD (2003), Associate professor (2007) 10 yrs Consulting Layman in neurosciences … en blandning av mina verksamheter,

The telecom network

Coordinating and integrating a telecom project

Research interest … långa utredningar, remissvar, mm känner säkert igen er Which are our neural predisposition enabling the coordination and integration of activities?

Point of departure [The] internal functional space that is made up of neurons must represent the properties of the external world – it must somehow be homomorphic with it (Llinás, 2001)

INTERNAL REALM EXTERNAL REALM homomorphism other humans social reality Human brain and body artefacts social reality other humans vision hearing taste smell touch homomorphism

“External” sciences INTERNAL REALM EXTERNAL REALM homomorphism Human brain and body artefacts social reality other humans vision hearing taste smell touch homomorphism

“Internal” sciences INTERNAL REALM EXTERNAL REALM homomorphism Human brain and body artefacts social reality other humans vision hearing taste smell touch homomorphism

Knudsen, 2007

Knudsen, 2007

Activity Modalities - neural predispositions for coordinating and integrating actions

Coordinative universals - - objectivation - contextualization - stabilization - spatialization - temporalization - transition Coordinative universals - Activity Modalities Focus on the target Frame a context of relevance Orient herself in space Conceive of actions leading to the goal Adhere to norms Latent capabilities that every healthy human is endowed with at birth Change focus

INTERNAL REALM EXTERNAL REALM Activity Modalities other humans Human brain and body artefacts social reality other humans vision hearing taste smell touch Activity Modalities

Activity Modalities - the internal realm

Motor Premotor

Motor Premotor If there is a brain lesion in a specific part, the modalities are disabled, e.g. transition and superior colliculus

Summary

The most important issue in brain research today is that of the internalization or embedding of the universals of the external world into an internal functional space (Llinás, 2001, p. 64)

Points for reflection Activity Modalities definitely of interest in the external realm What about the internal realm? Neural correlates of the Activity Modalities? Already solved? Different names? A way to advance neuroscience? If so, let’s continue the discussion!

Thank you! Questions?

My external realm

A work object - a contemporary mammoth FACH setup/release FM support Node connection control PM support Distributed OS SW key handling AAL5 layer AAL2 network connection control SAAL layer De-block HW (incl. Self test) RX diversion PCH setup/release DCH Multi code DCH Power control DCH Synchronization DCH User data process System upgrade Scalable execution LED handling Power on Application hook Local execution platform CMsupport DCH setup/release AAL2 layer Network synch. incl. Distr. Cell processing setup/release Cell capacity supervision Resource auto configuration Physical line termination Application SW load DCH connection supervision SW upgrade during traffic Soft handover SMS broadcast Fast congestion control Hard handover Softer handover RACH Transport channel FACH/RACH connection FACH Process user data FACH Ack. Traffic connection Call path tracing Fast power control Single DCH radio link DCH Single code PCH Power control PCH User data process BCCH User data process Multi DCH Radio link AAL5/IP packaging and encapsulating IP support HW/SW info Start MMI Element management platform Operation and Management Java execution platform Cell measurement report to RNC Node synch. BCCH setup/release FACH Power control RACH setup/release Setup of RBS/RNC control link Iub data stream setup/release BCCH Power control - a contemporary mammoth

Research aim – a balanced view NEURAL EXTERNAL Human brain and body artefacts social reality other humans vision hearing taste smell touch Coordination

“Physical” artifacts

“Mental” artifacts - writing systems (Dehaene, 2009) In spite of their apparent diversity, all [writing systems] share a great many common features that reflect how visual information is encoded in our cortex. Over time, scribes developed increasingly efficient notations that fitted the organization of our brains. In brief, our cortex did not specifically evolve for writing. Rather, writing evolved to fit the cortex.

What does this mean? 2009 The Activity Modalities Well grounded in the external realm A truly interdisciplinary approach From neuroscience to development of telecom systems! Lack grounding in the neural realm Address research in the neural realm? The most important issue in brain research today is that of the internalization or embedding of the universals of the external world into an internal functional space (Llinás, 2001, p. 64)

The neuronal workspace hypothesis (adapted after Dehaene, Kerszberg, & Changeux, 1998) Hippocampal area Para-hippocampal area Ventral and lateral areas of temporal lobes Temporal and inferior parietal areas Wernicke’s area Premotor cortex Posterior parietal cortex Supplementary motor area Basal ganglia Cerebellum Left inferior frontal lobe Broca’s area. Parietal lobe .Hippocampal area Orbitofrontal cortex Anterior cingulate Hypothalamus Amygdala Ventral striatum as well as the prefrontal cortex Evaluative Systems (VALUE) Neuronal Workspace (COORDINATING) prefrontal cortex Long-term Memory (PAST) Attentional Systems (FOCUSING) Perceptual Systems (PRESENT) Motor Systems (FUTURE)

The neuronal workspace hypothesis Evaluative Systems (VALUE) The current situation is evaluated for alternative actions Long-term Memory (PAST) Similar situations are retrieved from memory entire activity domains Attentional Systems (FOCUSING) An object is focused Relevant things are attended - contextualization - spatialization Neuronal Workspace (COORDINATING) Perceptual Systems (PRESENT) Sensations arrive in sensory modalities Motor Systems (FUTURE) Actions are executed temporalization stabilization mediational means

The neuronal workspace hypothesis Attentional Systems (FOCUSING) An new object is focused transition Neuronal Workspace (COORDINATING) Perceptual Systems (PRESENT) New sensations