Theory of the Computational Function of Microcircuit Dynamics

This chapter discusses models for computation in cortical microcircuits in the light of general computational theories and biological data. We first review some basic concepts from computation theory. We then discuss existing models for computation in cortical microcircuits within this precise conceptual framework. We argue that models for online computing in dynamical systems require particular attention in this context, since they provide the best fit to the types of computational tasks that are solved by the brain, as well as the best fit to biological data about the anatomy and physiology of the underlying