Integration of signals in complex biophysical systems

Abstract

There is clear evidence of fusion processes exhibited by biophysical systems, such as the brain. One simple example is the way a human brain processes visual information. In fact, one of the consequences of normal integration of the visual information from two retinas in the visual cortex is ability for depth perception. In actuality, a primate brain is capable of integrating visual, auditory, cutaneous, and proprioceptive signals in order to extract crucial information that may not otherwise be fully present in any single type of signal. Our analysis of neural data collected from primates during sensory-motor experiments shows a clear presence of transient fusion of neural signals. In particular, the activity in the brain regions responsible for motor planning and control exhibit cointegration among the instantaneous phase measures, which is associated with generalized phase synchronization of neural activity.