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

2. 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,

3. The telecom network

4. Coordinating and integrating a telecom project

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

6. 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)

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

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

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

10. Knudsen, 2007

11. Knudsen, 2007

12. Activity Modalities - neural predispositions for coordinating and integrating actions

13. 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

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

15. Activity Modalities - the internal realm

16. Motor
Premotor

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

18. Summary

19. 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)

20. 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!

21. Thank you!
Questions?

23. My external realm

24. 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

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

26. “Physical” artifacts

27. “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.

28. 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)

29. 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)

30. 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

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