http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=one-face-one-neuron
Do folks recall the recall the research that focused on how one neuron in certain subjects was attuned to pictures of Halle Berry and/or Jennifer Ainston? This study, which also refers to the "grandmother neuron," can be accessed through the above URL. Simulutaneously amusing and amazing. Joan Joan Warmbold Boggs [email protected] > Mike Palij, with a talent for the obscure referent, paused in the course > of a discussion to note: > >> (the problem is similar to that for the classic "grandmother" or >> "yellow volkswagen" account of pattern recognition). > > Now I believe I am familiar with the "grandmother" allusion. It refers to > a concept which emerged from the Hubel-Weisel recording studies of > neurons in the visual cortex of the cat. Later studies by others showed > that neurons in a neighbouring region of the brain (the inferotemporal > cortex?) were highly specific (fired only) to complex visual stimuli. > The suggestion was made that in our cortex there may exist neurons which > are so specifically tuned as to respond only to the stimulus of our > grandmother's face. So the full allusion would be to a "grandmother cell" > (and I probably could even find out who first said it if I really wanted > to). > > But yellow volkswagen? You've got me there. Are you sure you didn't mean > "yellow submarine?" > > Stephen > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. > Professor of Psychology, Emeritus > Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] > 2600 College St. > Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 > Canada > > Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of > psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
