Neurophilosophy

Scientific American has been given a new “appealingly bright, colorful design and open layout,” and next month’s issue, in which the new look is introduced, is available for download as a PDF. The file can be downloaded for free until June 30th, so get it while you can.

The cover story, by memory researcher Joe Tsien from the Center for Systems Neurobiology at Boston University, is about neuroscientists’ current thinking about the molecular and cellular mechanisms that take place in populations of hippocampal neurons during memory formation. Tsien and his colleagues recently identified a type of cell in the rodent brain which appears to encode the abstract concept of “a nest”. These so-called “nest cells” are discussed in the article:

During the course of our experiments, we accidentally discovered a small number of hippocampal neurons that appear to respond to the abstract concept of “nest.” These cells react vigorously to all types of nests regardless of whether they are round or square or triangular or made of plastic or cotton or wood. Place a piece of glass over the nest so the animal can see it but can no longer climb in, and the nest cells cease to react. We conclude that these cells are responding not to the specific physical properties of the nest - its appearance or shape or material - but to its functionality: a nest is someplace to curl up in to sleep.

The July issue also contains articles on global warming, the evolution of cats, and the role of chronic inflammation in various conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease. There’s also an article called “Should Science Speak to Faith,” by Lawrance Krauss and Richard Dawkins.

Related:

• The “I’m in bed cell”: Encoding abstract concepts in the mouse brain