Are Dendrites Conceptually Useful?

Matthew E. Larkum

This article presents the argument that, while understanding the brain will require a multi-level approach, there is nevertheless something fundamental about understanding the components of the brain. I argue here that the standard description of neurons is not merely too simplistic, but also misses the true nature of how they operate at the computational level. In particular, the humble point neuron, devoid of dendrites with their powerful computational properties, prevents conceptual progress at higher levels of understanding.

Neuroscience 1;489:4-14 (2022)

Keywords

integrate-and-fireintrinsic excitabilitylevels of understandingnetworksNMDA-spikepoint neurons
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