[Other] Cognitive Implications of Cortical Phase Transitions Copy

This section investigates the potential implications of cortical phase transitions on cognitive functions and consciousness. We propose the following hypothesis for the development of cognitive functions during the infant development following birth. The neural connectivity is sparse in the neuropil at the embryonic stage, corresponding to subcritical states. The connection density starts increasing even before birth, and approaches a critical level during the first year after birth. Above the critical connection density, the cortical activity is self-sustaining. This creates sustained background noise activity in the cortex. Under continued bombardment by noise, the cortex creates non-random, structured patterns. Near critical states, the brain as a collective system can undergo repeated phase transitions in a self-organized way, under the influence of external and internal factors. In the case of fully developed brains, phase transitions may serve as neural mechanisms for the “Aha” moment of deep insight and conscious experience.