Steven Crane Compiled Section Handouts. Human Behavioral Biology 2012

Neural networks instead of grandmother neurons.

1. 
   Patterns of neural activation in overlapping networks can code for concepts, ideas, etc.
   
2. 
   "The key point is that networks not only overlap, but that there are foci of convergence and foci of divergence – one thing can have a lot of connotations, while you can be prompted to recall something by a lot of different things."
   

Fractal patterns in bifurcating systems instead of a different gene for every bifurcation.

1. 
   The bifurcations are fractals in that they are self-similar over a range of scales.
   
2. 
   Thus the rules that govern them could be fractals, thus, hypothetical fractal genes that somehow encode for rules like "grow 5x the diameter of the tube, then bifurcate" which repeat over and over across many systems.
   
3. 
   They could code for adhesion proteins between cells that become unstable after it's grown a certain length.
   
4. 
   You can then have fractal mutations. We see things that look like this, but it's obviously not a perfect explanation with solid evidence yet, but a decent theory for now.
   
5. 
   Good evidence for something like fractal genes going on:
   
   1. 
      Some genes are relevant to both vascular bifurcation and lymphatic bifurcation, as a side example.
      
   2. 
      Fractal mutations give something called Kallman's syndrome where bilaterally symmetric structures that form around the midline of the body's axis have developmental problems.
      
6. 
   These fractal patterns help solve problems of "not enough space" for the circulatory system
   
   1. 
      Every cell is 5 cells away from a blood vessel. So blood vessels have HUGE SURFACE AREA.
      
   2. 
      But the circulatory system takes up less than 5% of the body's volume. So TINY VOLUME.
      
   3. 
      Sounds just like…?
      
      1. 
         Menger sponge! Fractal geometry for the win.
         

What are our examples of crude "pre-emergence"?

1. 
   Potato chips have an emergent double-saddle shape by virtue of biophysical features of the system.
   
2.